Source First ? Really?

I decided not to post an answer as I can think of no hifi meaning.

today i saw a naim event on fb...unity atom + focal sopra n1...i dont think the new unity can drive corectly sopra n1, i must to hear, but i doubt,  when i saw on them minim 200dr and they sound great with 250dr...here is a big question mark

One of the factors often presented by the exponents of a whole systems balanced approach is the more consistent performance of relatively budget digital source components and certainly with regard to pitch stability there is truth in that theory. 

However, I have always been mindful of what a great performer a Rega P3 is.  At the Signals show last year one was used  with a Transfiguration MC, Audio Analogue amp and Magne speakers - amp and speakers very considerable more expensive than the TT.    An excellent system and considerably more musical than the high end Linn configuration down the corridor.  

IB - yes I am auditioning more expensive speakers,  but it seems these ones suit my room (and go down to 22 Hz allegedly). More expensive does not seem to mean better necessarily. The Goldenear Triton were good but dominated the room too much. 

Innocent Bystander posted:

I always thought mullet meant an apparently unbalanced system, even if it may work, not specifically "back end"? That I think nearest approaches use of the term in other circles.

That just shows that, as HiFi nuts, we're more discriminating than other circles; where as they lump everything together in one term, we differentiate between different types of imbalance.   

Huge posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I always thought mullet meant an apparently unbalanced system, even if it may work, not specifically "back end"? That I think nearest approaches use of the term in other circles.

That just shows that, as HiFi nuts, we're more discriminating than other circles; where as they lump everything together in one term, we differentiate between different types of imbalance.   

So what's the amp equivalent? BLowfish perhaps?

Innocent Bystander posted:

Huge posted:

Innocent Bystander posted:

I always thought mullet meant an apparently unbalanced system, even if it may work, not specifically "back end"? That I think nearest approaches use of the term in other circles.

That just shows that, as HiFi nuts, we're more discriminating than other circles; where as they lump everything together in one term, we differentiate between different types of imbalance.   

So what's the amp equivalent? BLowfish perhaps?

How about Codfish?  

It needs to be big in the middle. Blowfish is most appropriate, though as it's a U.K. based forum, puffer fish might be even better. 

And if it's a Japanese Amp then it'd be fugu.

How about Turbot? 

Turbot? Aren't those the great cars in the André Franquin comics?

The previous accepted term for a balanced design was the 'Halibut' (named after our own Hungry Halibut).  However specifically for Naim the 'Black Boxfish' has also been suggested.

Huge posted:

The previous accepted term for a balanced design was the 'Halibut' (named after our own Hungry Halibut).  However specifically for Naim the 'Black Boxfish' has also been suggested.

Maybe we should be democratic and vote..

Huge posted:

The previous accepted term for a balanced design was the 'Halibut' (named after our own Hungry Halibut).  However specifically for Naim the 'Black Boxfish' has also been suggested.

Indeed, and us sophisticated Naimites have defined a Mullet as back-end emphasis as per the Mullet haircut pretty much all us blokes sported in the 70s and early 80s - long at the back, get it?. And Monkfish the exact opposite because it it a fish that is all head and no tail.

Please don't ask why we compare haircuts to fish. 

nigelb posted:

Huge posted:

The previous accepted term for a balanced design was the 'Halibut' (named after our own Hungry Halibut).  However specifically for Naim the 'Black Boxfish' has also been suggested.

Indeed, and us sophisticated Naimites have defined a Mullet as back-end emphasis as per the Mullet haircut pretty much all us blokes sported in the 70s and early 80s - long at the back, get it?. And Monkfish the exact opposite because it it a fish that is all head and no tail.

Please don't ask why we compare haircuts to fish. 

Why do we compare haircuts to fish?  And what's the hifi equilivent to a blue rinse? 

wenger2015 posted:

nigelb posted:

Huge posted:

The previous accepted term for a balanced design was the 'Halibut' (named after our own Hungry Halibut).  However specifically for Naim the 'Black Boxfish' has also been suggested.

Indeed, and us sophisticated Naimites have defined a Mullet as back-end emphasis as per the Mullet haircut pretty much all us blokes sported in the 70s and early 80s - long at the back, get it?. And Monkfish the exact opposite because it it a fish that is all head and no tail.

Please don't ask why we compare haircuts to fish. 

Why do we compare haircuts to fish?  And what's the hifi equilivent to a blue rinse? 

A because we're sad 

And a blue rinse would be kit that's old enough to have played 78s!  

What about the " Mary Quant ".

For a system that swings.

(Bang at the front and cutting edge at the sides and rear)

wenger2015 posted:

nigelb posted:

Huge posted:

The previous accepted term for a balanced design was the 'Halibut' (named after our own Hungry Halibut).  However specifically for Naim the 'Black Boxfish' has also been suggested.

Indeed, and us sophisticated Naimites have defined a Mullet as back-end emphasis as per the Mullet haircut pretty much all us blokes sported in the 70s and early 80s - long at the back, get it?. And Monkfish the exact opposite because it it a fish that is all head and no tail.

Please don't ask why we compare haircuts to fish. 

Why do we compare haircuts to fish?  And what's the hifi equilivent to a blue rinse? 

Aaaahhhhhhhh…...

Have we now finished with haircuts? Time to move on to pedicures?

The Strat (Fender) posted:

Have we now finished with haircuts? Time to move on to pedicures?

Don't get me excited..... 

Pcd posted:

Not whilst Donald Trump is still campaigning

Poor Donald is so misunderstood.... ......im considering campaigning for him in exchange for some chord music cables...

Never understood the haircuts - but I,ve never been one to go along with fashions of the day...

How about back to the subject of the thread? Clearly many different views as to what is right, and how to measure the 'weight' of any individual item in this context, though an underlying theme perhaps of balance - meaning balaance of contribution to sound not balance of cost.

?

Innocent Bystander posted:

 

How about back to the subject of the thread? Clearly many different views as to what is right, and how to measure the 'weight' of any individual item in this context, though an underlying theme perhaps of balance - meaning balaance of contribution to sound not balance of cost.

?

Yes.

By and large I think you get what you pay for with hifi. One dealer who I had involvement with recently was adamant that my Naim Ndac and unitiserve was no way up to a standard of quality as a source for the integrated amp I bought from him. Instead recommending that If i put my music on a device that outputs on USB connected to HRT's little dac converter I would get far better results.

This item retails at around £300.00. Aswell as additional cost of a suitable laptop = not much £ compared to what I had spent before . Could be a giant killer combo, but I wasn't convinced enough to take it further.  Probably would of bettered my source in some aspects for sure, though lacking in " the feel " no doubt. ???