I definitely agree that as the system gets more "revealing" there is a much lesser "margin of error" in selecting your components. You had better get it right, or you WILL hear about it when you turn it on.
This places a much higher dependence on the audiophile's knowledge of what things will improve his sound. This is really only obtained through experience, coupled with some technical knowledge about why certain things sound the way they do. This is part of the hobby, yes?
If everyone could go down the the local Circuit City and get the optimal audio quality sound, in a one-stop-shop, this wouldn't be much of a hobby. I think that finding the right equipment, and learning about, it is part of the fun.
But, getting back to your question of how to find out what is the weak point. If you have studied and listened enough to buy a piece of gear, then you should know what the strong and weak points are, in it. If your system problems are not cured by this addition, then the problem, or part of it, lies elsewhere. I think that this is where some technical knowledge and applications experience, comes into play. Studying technology, and reading others' impressions, is a good way to make some generalizations, that can narrow down the field for you. Not reviewers. Actual users who have nothing financial to gain from their statements.
I use a combination of my listening experiences over the years, combined with some technical knowledge about how things work and how they "usually" sound. This has worked for me to fine tune my system.
For example, if I have an all-tube system, and I still am having some problem with "grainy" sound, and then I remember that my preamp has a J-Fet in the phono section, I kind of know where my problem is, don't I? Or if I have a SET amp that is not real expensive, and I have some upper-end roll-off, and some bass-bloat, I should realize that the amp is most likely the problem, and I need some better output transformers. Or if I have a bass extension and SPL deficiency, and my speakers have only 6" mid-bass drivers for woofers, I know that this is where the problem is.
These are just some simple examples, but I'm sure you see what I'm getting at. Knowledge and listening experience have to play a part in your selection.
Over time, you will get this, if you work at it.
This places a much higher dependence on the audiophile's knowledge of what things will improve his sound. This is really only obtained through experience, coupled with some technical knowledge about why certain things sound the way they do. This is part of the hobby, yes?
If everyone could go down the the local Circuit City and get the optimal audio quality sound, in a one-stop-shop, this wouldn't be much of a hobby. I think that finding the right equipment, and learning about, it is part of the fun.
But, getting back to your question of how to find out what is the weak point. If you have studied and listened enough to buy a piece of gear, then you should know what the strong and weak points are, in it. If your system problems are not cured by this addition, then the problem, or part of it, lies elsewhere. I think that this is where some technical knowledge and applications experience, comes into play. Studying technology, and reading others' impressions, is a good way to make some generalizations, that can narrow down the field for you. Not reviewers. Actual users who have nothing financial to gain from their statements.
I use a combination of my listening experiences over the years, combined with some technical knowledge about how things work and how they "usually" sound. This has worked for me to fine tune my system.
For example, if I have an all-tube system, and I still am having some problem with "grainy" sound, and then I remember that my preamp has a J-Fet in the phono section, I kind of know where my problem is, don't I? Or if I have a SET amp that is not real expensive, and I have some upper-end roll-off, and some bass-bloat, I should realize that the amp is most likely the problem, and I need some better output transformers. Or if I have a bass extension and SPL deficiency, and my speakers have only 6" mid-bass drivers for woofers, I know that this is where the problem is.
These are just some simple examples, but I'm sure you see what I'm getting at. Knowledge and listening experience have to play a part in your selection.
Over time, you will get this, if you work at it.