Which (ICE Component) will make the most difference in Sound Quality?

[low_bass_makker]

Hmm another debate thread, Chalo lets start.

My question to you guys is that which part of the audio system will affect its sound more.

• HU
• RCA
• Amp
• Speaker wire
• Speakers (any driver)

Guys I am not asking about SQ here. I am asking about which part in the above list will change the sound more. So guys post the list in this order with most affecting on the top and the least one at the bottom with all the five factors mentioned.

[greenhorn]

Imho its the speakers. For all the rest, the design, measurement and calibration is fairly straightforward and 90 ~ 95% perfection can be achieved easily, and 99% with some effort, but for speaker design, getting even reasonably close to perfection is tough, because there are so many variables. When I make/buy stuff I allocate ~ 50% at least for the speakers and the rest for the electronics ( not talking about ICE)

[sandeepmdas]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

Imho its the speakers..for speaker design, getting even reasonably close to perfection is tough..

Ditto.

"Man may land in Mars, but he will never create perfect speakers."

[hydrashok]

In the context of ICE, IMHO:

1) Speakers
2) HU
3) Amp
4) RCA interconnects
5) Speaker wires

But I also think that any of these parts can cause a bottleneck. For eg: An excellent HU will be let down by middling speakers; An excellent pair of speakers will not perform their best with a so-so HU; and so on and so forth. After all, the final result is a sum of all the parts working as a whole.

So, if we consider that the wiring (esp. RCAs) is reasonably good, I think the HU, the Speakers and the Amp/s are more-or-less equally important.

[ramie2400]

I think changing the speakers will affect the sound more

Edit:LBM ji why now start a Poll thingy?

[low_bass_makker]

Originally Posted by hydrashok

But I also think that any of these parts can cause a bottleneck. For eg: An excellent HU will be let down by middling speakers; An excellent pair of speakers will not perform their best with a so-so HU; and so on and so forth. After all, the final result is a sum of all the parts working as a whole.

So, if we consider that the wiring (esp. RCAs) is reasonably good, I think the HU, the Speakers and the Amp/s are more-or-less equally important.

Sir I agree what you posted above. But I am not asking what you expressed. My question is that if we change a good HU with a bad one and RCA from best one to a normal one which will make more difference in sound. I know that a good sounding HU along a middling speakers will have bad effects.

My main question is which will make major effect.

[low_bass_makker]

Originally Posted by ramie2400

I think changing the speakers will affect the sound more

Edit:LBM ji why now start a Poll thingy?

Hmm I also agree. I think we can do a poll thing but it will have 25 options so let us take out the minor ones like the RCA,Speaker wire so we will have three options left the HU, AMP, Speakers then the poll would be like this..

Which will affect more with major one on the left and the least one on the right

HU -> AMP -> Speakers
HU -> Speakers ->AMP
AMP -> Speakers->HU
AMP->HU -> Speakers
Speakers->AMP -> HU
Speakers -> HU->AMP

Mods ji Please do the need full.

[vebmetal]

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

Sir I agree what you posted above. But I am not asking what you expressed. My question is that if we change a good HU with a bad one and RCA from best one to a normal one which will make more difference in sound. I know that a good sounding HU along a middling speakers will have bad effects.

My main question is which will make major effect.

Or in other words, in which one does quality matter the most? right? That's what you are asking?

IMHO it would be Speakers > HU > Amp > RCA > Speaker Wire

[low_bass_makker]

Originally Posted by vebmetal

Or in other words, in which one does quality matter the most? right? That's what you are asking?

IMHO it would be Speakers > HU > Amp > RCA > Speaker Wire

No it is not directly connected to quality but asking generally.

Thanks

[techn9ne]

what if we place aluminum connecting cables instead of copper. i think it will effect the sound maximum without changing even a screw.
what you say?

[rocksterraghu]

IMO, If one part of the setup is weaker than the rest, then upgrading it will make the most difference/improvement. A setup is only as good as its weakest component.

However, I agree with hydra's opinion that if someone is looking at a new install, then that should be the priority list.

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by techn9ne

what if we place aluminum connecting cables instead of copper. i think it will effect the sound maximum without changing even a screw.
what you say?

Alu, though cheaper than copper, has a slightly higher resistivity (lesser conductivity) - because of which it is never recommended for low-voltage applications as in cars and trucks.

[DerAlte]

IMHO, it would be in the following order:

• HU (quality of the original signal)
• Speakers (ability to convert the electrical signal to sound efficiently)
• Speaker wire (leaving esoterics out, this would be about not attenuating the lower-power signals in the spectrum put out by the HU / amp; matters to those who can hear / discern the presence or absence of these signals)
• Amp (ability to amplify the electrical signal without introducing extras)
• RCA (absence of injected external noise; needed only when there is an amp)

This would be the order in an original install as well as for improving an existing install. Right said, Raghu, a chain is as strong as its weakest link.

[da_low_flyer]

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

will affect its sound more.

Originally Posted by low_bass_makker

will change the sound more.

First of all, care to explain what exactly do you mean by these 2 statements?

I've read through many posts by Navin, Sam, Autophile, Gunbir and Deralte. I concur with them that "there are no absolutes in audio". So what hypothetical quantity are you trying to measure/ascertain?

low_flyer

[navin]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

Alu, though cheaper than copper, has a slightly higher resistivity (lesser conductivity) - because of which it is never recommended for low-voltage applications as in cars and trucks.

Copper is also more ductile.