Swaping out IC's / which one first?

[pearsall001]

Hi guys, I'm thinking about changing my IC's. What I have now is just el cheapo Radio Shack. The sound is pretty good but I think it can be improved w/ a better IC. I don't plan on spending a ton of money & I have just started reading up on different manufactures products. Here's the question - I just want to purchase one set to see if there is a difference before I buy a second set. Would you suggest the IC between my cd player & receiver or amp to receiver first. Which IC would do my system more justice or if it really doesn't matter? I'm open to all suggestions on what IC's you guys could recommend & your opinion if they'll actually make a difference.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi guys, I'm thinking about changing my IC's. What I have now is just el cheapo Radio Shack. The sound is pretty good but I think it can be improved w/ a better IC. I don't plan on spending a ton of money & I have just started reading up on different manufactures products. Here's the question - I just want to purchase one set to see if there is a difference before I buy a second set. Would you suggest the IC between my cd player & receiver or amp to receiver first. Which IC would do my system more justice or if it really doesn't matter? I'm open to all suggestions on what IC's you guys could recommend & your opinion if they'll actually make a difference.

Well, I can only recommend you spend your time and energy on the room acoustics improvements, speakers and better software. IC is not an issue with modern components, unless you have a passive preamp and turntable.
A waste of time to even test it as then your biases may interfere and misdirect and mask reality of the issue.

Those RS are good cables.

 

[jaxvon]

The only good reasons for swapping out ICs (IMO) would be if yours are falling apart (not making good contact) or if you have noise issues because of inadequate shielding. If you don't have these problems and you aren't experiencing loss, then there should be no reason to upgrade.

 

[highfihoney]

your fine.

the post's above are spot on advice,if your cable's show sign's of wear or you just want to change to a better cable then do so but to expect better performance from better cable's you will not accomplish an actual upgrade.

ive tried quite a few different big$ cable's against radio shack gold cable's with no benifit's what so ever,even the highly touted nordost line of cable's showed no sign's of improvement to my ear's or to my accoustic analyzer,some here question my method's of testing with an acoustic analyzer so dont take that comment as absolute truth but i have NEVER EVER heard one single benifit from cable's no matter the type of wire silver or other wise.

dont fall for all that break in time factor mumbo jumbo that the cable companies flood the market with either,as with most thing's in life first impression's will tell you much of the picture as it will with cable's.

if you want to upgrade then save fund's for an equipment upgrade or if you still want a different cable try some blue jean cable's or tributaries but unless you have cash to burn stay away from all the hyped up interconnect's & power cord companies.

i should disclose that i own & currently use tributaries cable's.

have a good evening