Why we (often) upgrade the wrong things (first) and ignore the important things

+100 Just had to pile on and agree that Analogholic's content like this is some of the best in the YT-sphere - or anywhere else that I have seen.  He has a bunch of these covering amps, dacs, streamers, etc and they are all very well done.  They are a fantastic resource for anyone new or even somewhat further along in their audio journey (and probably great for self-identified 'experts' who might be willing to listen lol).  I cannot think of any youtube channels, magazines, shows, dealers, or forums where this info is distilled so well for this hobby as these videos he has put out.    

Thanks for sharing.  I hadn't seen him before but agree in general with his message. 

Back in the day, one of the equipment manufacturers (I think maybe Meridian but cannot remember) issued a slide chart that looked at amplifier power, speaker sensitivity, and maybe distance, and then rated the quality of sound that could be achieved by computing maximum SPLs where more was better.  It was sort of like this one (link) but made from board stock.

I am married to an economist.  Mt approach has always been using the marginal coat versus marginal gain approach.  Room treatments always begin after the initial system has been acquired.  Item auch as cable upgrades fall far down the list as you are chasing the last incremental bits if you began with decent cables.

My greatest improvement was upgrading my amplifier to provide my 3 series Maggies with enough current to make them shine.

"It's the room, stupid" (apologies to James Carville).

Agree wholeheartedly, but when you look at most virtual systems, convincing people appears to be a fool's errand.

@bmbmzig 

Thanks for the well-informed post.

When I got into this hobby, a member here took me in. They taught me, via email and zoom, about reflection times, first and distal reflection points, room modes, and all the rest. I measured extensively, moved furniture, and at one point I even had a subwoofer 3 feet in the air to measure vertical modal behavior. He taught me to figure out the bass frequencies first. Then I dealt with the rest – even mapping different reflection times on my ceiling and side walls to try to troubleshoot how to place treatment, and what kind.

Now, when I try gear changes, I know that the larger factors have been largely contained. This makes the changes "real."

I have no problem with people throwing money at equipment. What bothers me is their assertion that these actions are "justified" in any kind of a scientific sense. They're not justified. They're not disallowed – again, free country. But to assert they're justified is to tarnish the scientific bases for the hobby. 

@dantaudio  Thanks!

@lhasaguy  Good process. I'd even argue that room measurements might come before speaker acquisition.