Lately I've been in a good mood so not much able to "rile" me. Things are good all around.............. for once.

Doesn't matter how good your speakers are if the rest of the system is crap. The equipment should be balanced performanced wise. If it's not, your Focals that you just spent a boat load on are gonna suck on that radioshack amp. That Alpine F1 won't sound good at all with those factory Hyundai 4". Is anyone following me here?!?!?!! That Audison isn't going to perform well grounded with telephone cable.

So while all you guys are pointing out important pieces of specific equipment that can make a difference, wiser money may be spent elsewhere to balance out what you already have. Sure, maybe it is the speakers, but maybe it's something else, like your electrical system, or your install of the front stage........... or swapping out that factory deck with the line level adaptor, etc. Everyone is going to be different.

To specifically point out speakers as the MOST influential piece is misleading to those not knowing any better. That may not exactly be the best place for someone to spend their money. THEREFORE, find a good installer and have them listen and review what you have first. Worst thing that can happen spinning off a thread like this is people concluding that speakers are it and a few newbs run out and spend some crazy cash with dreams of dramatic differences when maybe that's not what they need.

C-ya.

 

^^^ hasn't all that been said before?

Yes, we all know that install is important

Yes, we all know that having a great set of components makes no sense if you are using deck power.

Yes, we know that any system is only as good as the weakest link.

HOWEVER

I think Eli, Dukk, Defro and as usual, PEI330 kinda of get my point about discussing a HIERARCHY of electronic components -- or in other words.... ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT A GREAT INSTALL.... WHAT COMPONENTS MOST EFFECT THE "VOICE" OF A SYSTEM.

I do see your point about "simplifying" threads; however, if we always "dumb down" threads, isn't it akin to making a great meal and then throwing it into a blender and turning it into pablum?

 

I highly doubt anyone would get F1 gear and run stock speakers or anything close

I think it is obvious what the actual meaning of Mike's question was.

I think sound deadening is the most important part because I like a little bit of volume to my music and it sounds like total @SS if everything in the car is vibrating. Speakers would be my next choice because they have to be more specialized for their application than any other component. That is, they can make or break the overall sound depending on the space you have to work with and how well the speaker is matched to that application.

 

Id have to say your altenator/battery, seeing as you cant have sound with out power.

 

ok, fair enuf. But originally nothing said about all things being equal. All things being equal, what's the most critical............ NOTHING. Because you have a balanced system You upgrade one thing and then not all things are equal anymore Ok, am I pissing anyone off yet [img]graemlins/banghead.gif[/img] I'm just fakin' with y'all.

But seriously, I'd have to go with speakers and their tonality characteristics. Processing is also good but I think Tonality is the most important goal to me. In a good install, you should be able to eliminate most of the processing. When competing I think it's not possible to eliminate proper processing if you want to win or be at the top because of the scoring system. But for personal listening in a tonally accurate system, you should be able to dump any sort of processing or at least most of it.

Speakers.......... that's the ticket.

More interesting question is to find tonally accurate speakers and also have a balanced system..........what does that mean for the rest of the system.........to be matched ?!?!?!? [img]graemlins/dunno.gif[/img] Anyone know of any great budget speakers that are tonally accurate?!?!?!?!?

 

The MOST important ELECTRICAL component is wire.....good luck making anything work with out any wires.


I agree with Tom (except the "
dumb-azz rookie nerf herders" comment...lol)


It doesn't matter how well everything is done, if One thing is poor, it will never live up to expectations

 

Choosing a good sounding system is not much different than cooking a fine meal, you can start with the choicest of components or groceries, but if you overspice and overcook the meal, your dog won't touch it..,maybe my dog, but not yours
Oh and I agree with Dukk, a well chosen and installed system (u can't ALWAYS get the perfect install location) shouldn't need an EQ, I feel mis-used EQ's are the main problem with blown speakers and in some cases amplifiers.
Anyone Oh hungry ?

[ August 25, 2004, 01:22 AM: Message edited by: Eli47 ]

 

Good, well thought out points Eli. I would only add this...

An EQ is only as good as the person using it and no matter how good they are "changing" the sound by adding a link. Obviously, the better the EQ, the less the effect.

Eli, in keeping with your cooking metaphor... if Emeril puts too much "bam" into a pot, all he will accomplish is a lot of burned tongues. Likewise, misused EQs can wreak havoc on your system's sound and durability. However, give an Adam, Defro or Dukk an EQ and... voila... magic!

So in the end.... EQs are like condoms.... they are only useful if you use them correctly... but they still veil the experiance a little...

 

Mike my philosophy on too much "bam" is, if it burns on the way in, it will burn on the way out !