A Hi-Fi system, as you already know, is a whole, if not a collection of devices that can all come from the same manufacturer, or from as many manufacturers as there are devices in the system.
From time to time, we get asked questions like Which DAC would you recommend to go with my amplifier from such-and-such manufacturer? or I bought these speakers from thingamajig, which amplifier do you think I should get to go with them?.
Most often, it’s very hard for us to answer these kind of questions, since a Hi-Fi system is a chain of links that must work together and whose final sound quality must correspond to the connoisseur’s expectations.
So, in this article we’ll try to give you some advice to build a homogenous system, based on the bare minimum: a source, an amplifier and a pair of speakers.
More and more often, the source is composed of a DAC that can also be equipped with a headphone output. When we test a DAC, which happens a lot in the Qobuz Hi-Fi column, if it’s a non-portable model—and therefore primarily destined for a home Hi-Fi system—which is equipped with a headphone out, we also test it but it’s clear that the sound performances of the line out are the most important.
DACs are the audio digital systems where some manufacturers tend to mostly conduct operations on audio files to, according to them, improve sound restitution, reduce jitter, in short make it (theoretically) better, but better than what?
After listening to dozens and dozens of DACS, if not hundreds, we can unequivocally say that these operations on digital audio files are far from being convincing for the most part, and that it’s most often the DACs with a minimalist structure that don’t use more components than necessary that have provided us with the most audio delight. It does however remain rather subjective, since what we like above all is a faithful sound reproduction, while others have a complete right to love what’s not faithful but flatters their ears.
Anyway, listening by yourself is probably the only way to be absolutely sure of your choice!
Let’s now tackle the subject of amplifiers. We can classify them in three broad categories: analog transistor amplifiers, analog tube amplifiers and switching amplifiers, also called digital amplifiers.
It’s not possible to generalize the sound of this or that category of amplifiers, as it’s not really consistent throughout, but we can still draw some broad lines on analog tube amplifiers and switching amplifiers.
There’s an abundance of choice among analog transistor amplifiers, as much regarding power as amplifier class, and their sound is often specific to each brand. It’s therefore important for you to know if you want a rather soft, rather neutral or heavy restitution, and also what power you should have for the use you intend it for, and with which speakers you’ll use it.
Analog tube amplifiers have a reputation for providing a warm sound that is liked by some connoisseurs. They have more difficulties providing as high a power as their transistor counterparts and bass consistency isn’t always their strong suit. You then have to use them with high-efficiency speakers if you want to get comfortable sound levels.
As for switching amplifiers, their strong suit is definitely their ability to reproduce bass with energy, some offering powerful and subtle sound restitutions, often very surprising given their small size.
Even more than amplifiers, speakers can use many speaker technologies, the most common being however the electrodynamic models.
For the same price, you will be better off buying a two-way speaker from a renowned manufacturer than a three-way speaker of uncertain origin. Power should of course be on par with the amplifier power, but contrary to a preconceived idea, it’s better to use a powerful amplifier with speakers that can manage less power than the opposite.
Indeed, a powerful amplifier will not saturate at the maximum power accepted by the speakers, while if you use speakers that can accept more power than the amplifier, if you push it to its limit, it will clip and produce harmonics in the treble that are full of energy and can destroy the speaker’s tweeters.
Now that we’ve talked about this matter, you will also have to choose your speakers according to your amplifier and also to your DAC, and make sure that the whole system provides you with a sound restitution that you are content with, which can be anticipated in some way when you know which elements to associate, but that still demands a listening test to be sure.
And so, if you sometimes get lucky, it’s better to know what you want to choose your Hi-Fi equipment!
All of this to also tell you that, should you want to contact us for advice about a purchase, please provide us with the information that can help us find what could suit you.
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Translated by Damien Izabelle