Good speakers vs good signal processing

[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

Which would sound better- a marginal speaker with the top signal processing and amplifying equipment, or the best speaker with only average sound processing?

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[yacoub 10+ year member]

My understanding is that if you're getting a signal of any quality from the HU but the actual data being sent is inferior, all the processing in the world isn't going to improve that. ie, signal processing improvement isn't going to change the quality of the data, it will just make it easier to read (clarity).

What I'm getting at is that you're better off with a great set of speakers with a good HU, than you are with crap speakers in any capacity, or a crappy HU with any level of post-HU signal processing. ie, an HU with a high quality DAC, preamps, and opamps going to great speakers is much preferred over a nasty bottom-of-the-line HU going to great speakers, no matter what else is stuck between them to try to improve the clarity of the data being sent from the HU since the quality of the data is still inferior.

Start the chain (the HU) with something of good quality and you won't have to spend extra to try to repair or fix what is being output by it.

Please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

Speakers. The less processing the better IMO.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

i'd rather get a POS amp and a high end speaker rather than a POS speaker and a high end amp.

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

i'd rather get a POS amp and a high end speaker rather than a POS speaker and a high end amp.

Don't you already have that?? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

 

[LoudCrownVic 5,000+ posts]

My question more revolves around this- spend 1,000's on amps/hu/eq's or 1000's on speakers?

 

[FoxPro5 5,000+ posts]

My question more revolves around this- spend 1,000's on amps/hu/eq's or 1000's on speakers?

What are your goals?? If you plan to run your system actively then you will need the processing. Otherwise, get some well made speakers that you enjoy listening to and power them with is much amp as you can afford. Easy in theory, difficult in practice.

 

[yacoub 10+ year member]

You can spend $500 on speakers and $500 on an amp to power them and have quality on both parts of the equation. Even $600 speakers / $400 amp.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

You can't polish a turd.........

The signal processing can only take you so far.

Better speakers with less expensive, yet still adequate, signal processing is the way to go (given the question).

 

[bri487 5,000+ posts]

no matter the amp or processing, any given speaker will only go so far.

 

[alphakenny1 10+ year member]

Don't you already have that?? //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif

F.U. USAmps > Kicker //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif.

 

[zachzchw 5,000+ posts]

You can't polish a turd.........

And that applies to so much in life!

Like mentioned, rather than $1000's on one aspect of a setup, Id split the money over both amps and speakers, and get some **** nice equipment, but not the best.

Id figure its a toss up- a shitty amp would make nice speakers sound bad, and shitty speakers wouldnt allow a nice amp to shine.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

a shitty amp would make nice speakers sound bad, and shitty speakers wouldnt allow a nice amp to shine.

Unless you went absolute bargin basement and bought Pyramid's lowest amplifier line.....there's no reason the amplifier should affect the sound at all, other than differences in power........A "cheaper" amplifier with adequately low distortion (under 2%) and adequate power shouldn't sound any different than a higher priced amp of the same power.

 

[MrSector9 10+ year member]

Personnaly going either way and you should upgrade in time.

good source unit - sub par speakers = upgrtade speakers in future

sub par source - good speakers = upgrade source unit

 

[6spdcoupe 5,000+ posts]

Unless you went absolute bargin basement and bought Pyramid's lowest amplifier line.....there's no reason the amplifier should affect the sound at all, other than differences in power........A "cheaper" amplifier with adequately low distortion (under 2%) and adequate power shouldn't sound any different than a higher priced amp of the same power.

But you told me Squeakinator amps/speakers sound better than anything in the world. As my rep I feel very strongly misinformed.

//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/tongue.gif.6130eb82179565f6db8d26d6001dcd24.gif//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif