Honestly, it is YOU. Everything else is secondary.
All of appreciating hi fidelity is entirely subjective regardless of equipment. For example, I have auditioned Focal loudspeakers on many different occasions and...I just don't like 'em.The last time I was able to listen to them was at the former location of Stereo Exchange in NYC. Another gent and myself were standing there listening to the same music and we had very different opinions. He loved them, I didn't. The reviews were stellar, the manufacturer is very highly regarded in the biz. The other gent parted with $17,000. I bought an Astell & Kern portable player.
An earlier post here mentioned the room - and that is spot-on. Yes, experimenting with different amps and preamps and whatnot is fun - and expensive - but moving things around a little or a lot has substantial effect on everything.
I employ what Jim Thiel of Thiel Audio once suggested as a method of sussing things out - the "other room" application. Do what you will to your setup, then move into an adjacent room and see how things sound. It works!
All of appreciating hi fidelity is entirely subjective regardless of equipment. For example, I have auditioned Focal loudspeakers on many different occasions and...I just don't like 'em.The last time I was able to listen to them was at the former location of Stereo Exchange in NYC. Another gent and myself were standing there listening to the same music and we had very different opinions. He loved them, I didn't. The reviews were stellar, the manufacturer is very highly regarded in the biz. The other gent parted with $17,000. I bought an Astell & Kern portable player.
An earlier post here mentioned the room - and that is spot-on. Yes, experimenting with different amps and preamps and whatnot is fun - and expensive - but moving things around a little or a lot has substantial effect on everything.
I employ what Jim Thiel of Thiel Audio once suggested as a method of sussing things out - the "other room" application. Do what you will to your setup, then move into an adjacent room and see how things sound. It works!