Why "Source 1st" advocates have a tough time

[bobsticks]

That being said, my CD5x will absolutely trounce a Marantz SA8001 within my system - but much of that is due to system synergy. Case in point, my old CD5i sounded absolutely horrible with my old Krell KAV-400xi integrated, but shined when I moved to a Naim Nait5i integrated.

I think you just said it best yourself. Lest you think that I'm on them goofs that advises everyone he encounters to buy the most expensive speakers regardless of whatever's in the rest of the chain, I would state unecquivocably that I'm a systems/synergy cat.

The way you speak on the Nait cdp is the same way I regard my McIntosh amp and remember the day I first brought home the Martin Logans. Each improved my system incrementaly beyond what I could have hoped. I had the same high hopes for the Krell SACD Standard but twas not to be in my rig, despite the fact that many regard it as a top-tier player.

IMHO,audio is truly one of those practices which embodies the old cliche, "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link".

[O'Shag]

I think you just said it best yourself. Lest you think that I'm on them goofs that advises everyone he encounters to buy the most expensive speakers regardless of whatever's in the rest of the chain, I would state unecquivocably that I'm a systems/synergy cat.

The way you speak on the Nait cdp is the same way I regard my McIntosh amp and remember the day I first brought home the Martin Logans. Each improved my system incrementaly beyond what I could have hoped. I had the same high hopes for the Krell SACD Standard but twas not to be in my rig, despite the fact that many regard it as a top-tier player.

IMHO,audio is truly one of those practices which embodies the old cliche, "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link".

Excellent point Bobs.

In a perfect world it shouldn't matter, but in the real world with our imperfect components synergy is critical.