What is your priority in your system?

polkatese
polkatese Posts: 6,767
edited November 2003 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Guys,
Just for fun, I am interested to understand how you go about in setting up your HT or 2 channel systems, by polling your priority and what you believed in. Have fun in exploring your true audio color ;)
I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
Post edited by polkatese on
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2003
    I voted for:
    Audio processing features, setup, matching of electronics, and proper optimal calibration

    because I think you must begin with good high quality components... it really all begins there. Yes you have tweak what you already have.. and buy expensive interconncts, and stuff. but if you fail to start with good gear... i don't think any $200 IC can make up for low quality electronics.

    that's my thinking anyways. :D
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited November 2003
    Speakers and sources - garbage in, garbage out.

    The rest is extra gravy on the side.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited November 2003
    I spend alot of sleepless nights trying to figure out what exactly I want, and for what purpose. I have alot of quirks that determine a strange order in this madness.

    WAY WAY too many little things have me doing this and that....I swear I am becoming obsessive compulsive. Once the gear has been decided upon, its pretty much a lock...I don't like to deviate from my plans, or follow other individuals plans for my gear. I wouldn't say I have the upgrade bug, moreso I like to get the best that I can at the time....and have always been 100% happy with my choices.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • gidrah
    gidrah Posts: 3,049
    edited November 2003
    I voted for speakers and sources. Like Russ said GIGO.

    I probably dedicate more time to (at least the research of) tweaks and mods though. I'm running out of space and money for any new gear.
    Make it Funky! :)
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited November 2003
    thanks for the feedback, guys! I went with option 2 myself, but agree that option 1 should be the focus first, before option 2 becomes relevant. My reasoning is, given a good pair of speakers and source, without proper setup and calibration, chances are it will not sound as good as it can be. It seems like there is no end to this madness, the more I research, the more I want to tweak and spend money.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited November 2003
    Voted for option 1. Of the things we buy, the speakers, CDs and DVDs are the ones that determine the sound, as affected by our listening rooms. Everything else may be necessary and/or nice to have but really doesn't change anything.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited November 2003
    I voted for looks/design, reviews, WAF, and brand name. Hey, let's face it, these are the reasons I chose Polks.

    My perspective will probably change if I ever get infected with upgrade-itis.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,200
    edited November 2003
    Mine is making sure everything mates together properly.Without mating the system is a failure
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited November 2003
    I would have to add another option.
    The quality of the sound, balanced by the cost of the equipment.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • polkatese
    polkatese Posts: 6,767
    edited November 2003
    Agreed, Frank! Theta Casablanca III is definitely not in the running ;) With a comparable feature such as an AVM-20 or ref50 costs a cool $9k...maybe in my next life I can afford it.
    I am sorry, I have no opinion on the matter. I am sure you do. So, don't mind me, I just want to talk audio and pie.
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  • Tour2ma
    Tour2ma Posts: 10,177
    edited November 2003
    Speakers are 80% of the result in my book so vote went there...
    More later,
    Tour...
    Vox Copuli
    Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. - Old English Proverb

    "Death doesn't come with a Uhaul." - Dennis Gardner
    "It's easy to get lost in price vs performance vs ego vs illusion." - doro
    "There is a certain entertainment value in ripping the occaisonal (sic) buttmunch..." - TroyD
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2003
    i actually wish this would have been multipull choice.. i would pick the top three answers as the most important.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • rs159
    rs159 Posts: 1,027
    edited November 2003
    #2, because good stuff set up wrong still sounds like dog business.
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  • kberg
    kberg Posts: 974
    edited November 2003
    Originally posted by mantis
    Mine is making sure everything mates together properly.Without mating the system is a failure

    I'm with mantis and rs159 on this one. Great speaks/audio sources are key, but if they aren't properly matched/calibrated they can sound very, VERY bad, IMO. I bet even Bose could sound better than Polks w/o proper matching/calibration of the Polks. Uh-oh, don't flame me now! ;)
    Mains: polkaudio RTi70's (bi-wired)
    Center: polkaudio CSi40 (bi-wired)
    Surrounds: polkaudio FXi30's
    Rear Center: polkaudio CSi30
    Sub: SVS 20-39 PC+
    Receiver: ONKYO TX-SR600
    Display: JVC HD-56G786
    DVD Player: SONY DVP-CX985V
    DVD Player: OPPO DV-981HD 1080p High Definition Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI
    Remote: Logitech Harmony H688
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,987
    edited November 2003
    I don't buy into the calibration thing being the most important. Hell, I can turn my cave rig on, exit the room, close the door, walk down the hall to the bathroom, drop a loaf and it still sounds *decent*.

    And the whole 'matching' thing is BS as far as a 'given' rule. Ie this goes with that, period. That's the beauty of separates in the first place being able to mix brands to find what YOU like best. Just because 'Joe know it all' says you should buy brand A back end to go with brand B speakers doesn't make it right for you.

    Just my opinion.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited November 2003
    i agree with RussMan buying all the same brand of components doesn't mean your system will sound better. yeah you might gain some advantages to it.. but i prefer to go seperates and mix and match to my liking too.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • kberg
    kberg Posts: 974
    edited November 2003
    Well, I don't want to sound two-faced on this issue when I say that I know what you mean, Russ. I agree that you don't have to have matched/calibrated components to get great sound. I couldn't have had a more mis-matched/uncalibrated system before getting my Polks and following calibration procedures, etc., but was the sound great? Yes. Was it better than my current system post calibration? No, but again, did my previous system sound great? Yes, again! :)
    Mains: polkaudio RTi70's (bi-wired)
    Center: polkaudio CSi40 (bi-wired)
    Surrounds: polkaudio FXi30's
    Rear Center: polkaudio CSi30
    Sub: SVS 20-39 PC+
    Receiver: ONKYO TX-SR600
    Display: JVC HD-56G786
    DVD Player: SONY DVP-CX985V
    DVD Player: OPPO DV-981HD 1080p High Definition Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI
    Remote: Logitech Harmony H688
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