All the separate components of a hi-fi system

Let us make some simple considerations before we begin. First of all, it is important to premise that the number of setups according to which one can structure one's Hi-Fi system is not infinite--but almost. The vast majority of systems, in any case, have a structure involving a source, an amplifier, and acoustic speakers. These three pillars can be segmented, however, by taking advantage of a DAC not integrated, for example, or by splitting the integrated amplifier into the pre + power amp pair. Another curious point we can make in this regard is the following: a trivial object that we always have with us and that is overwhelmingly part of our routine, such as the smartphone, contains within it the entire audio chain. Certainly with other performances, but our cell phones contain speakers, DAC, amplifier and everything else that is necessary for a sound to be emitted. But what are the separate components of a Hi-Fi system?

The source can correspond to different elements. It can be a turntable, a CD player or even a network player or a PC, in case you listen to liquid music. It is what outputs the signal of the song we want to listen to. This is precisely why the source will always be upstream of our Hi-Fi system, except for the network conditioner, which is placed between the source and the power outlet. A CD player reads data stored on Compact Discs. CD players are capable of reading, in addition to physical CD formats such as CD-R and CD-RW, the many logical CD formats (Audio CD, Video CD, and so on) depending on the software that the CD player itself or the computer that houses it has. The sound of a CD is digital.

The turntable, on the other hand, is an electric sound reproduction device consisting of a turntable, on which to place a vinyl record that will be read by an arm equipped with a head and stylus, sliding on the appropriate grooves. It is, moreover, the evolution of the gramophone, invented in the second half of the 19th century by Emile Berliner. The sound of a vinyl is analog. Let us now turn to the latest frontier of audio sources: personal computers and network players. These devices read digital files, whether they are saved locally or played via streaming. Technically they are the highest performing solution, but they are less immediate to set up than CD players or turntables.

Thanks to these, the input voltage increases and, according to many audiophiles, this results in more musicality, more "warmth." Heat, however, is not just figurative. Tube amplifiers heat up a lot and consume a lot of power, so much so that it takes several minutes for the tubes to reach the correct temperature. Last but not least: the purchase price is on average much higher than a transistor amplifier.

Different is the case with regard to amplifiers with transistor structure. These tend to have a high current, not voltage, input. Transistor amplifiers make up the vast majority of those on the market today. Another subdivision we can make regarding amplifiers is that these can be either integrated or separate in the coupling consisting of preamplifier and power amplifier. In this case, it is the integrated ones that saturate the market. The purchase of an amplifier, however, should always go hand in hand with that of loudspeakers, which we discuss in the next section.

Let us also spend a few words first, however, on the classes of amplifiers. These have nothing to do with those we find when we talk about household appliances. Classes, when we talk about amplifiers, denote neither the consumption nor the quality of the same. Rather, they represent the inner workings, the structure of the amplifier; but it can easily happen that a class D amplifier sounds better than a class A one. Quality really depends on many factors.

How to choose the pairing of amplifier and acoustic speakers? One aspect to consider, but not calculable, is our taste. Nothing will sound better than what we like in terms of dynamics, projection and intensity in the high or low frequencies. But fortunately there are also more objective parameters that we can calculate to thus clear our minds. The power output of an amplifier should in fact be equal to, or slightly greater than, that of the two speakers added together. On the instructions there are often indications to this effect. In the case of speakers receiving too little power, the sound performance will fall short of expectations; in the case of speakers receiving too much power, the risk of ruining them will be real.

Thus, loudspeakers are the device that finally transforms the electrical signal from an audio amplifier into sound to get it to the listener. Although they can be subdivided into active (i.e., with a built-in amplifier) or passive speakers, you are unlikely to find anything that really has anything to do with high fidelity in the former case. More interesting is the question that arises between bookshelf and floorstanding speakers. Here it is the size of the room that is the discriminating factor; in the case where the listening room, whose importance we will never cease to emphasize, is contained, it will be better to decline on bookshelf speakers, supported by a good subwoofer.

Let us then emphasize once again how the set-up of a Hi-Fi system is absolutely changeable depending on the context, the audiophile who listens to it, the economic availability, the intended use (musical or multimedia), and many other factors. Elsewhere we have had the opportunity to discuss bi-wiring and bi-amping in more detail.

Thus, the separate components of a Hi-Fi system, if reduced to the essentials, are: source, amplifier and acoustic speakers. The higher the quality of the electronics, the more revealing these become, the more what unites them will count. Hi-Fi wiring that matches everything else in the system, at certain levels, is no longer a negligible factor. Take a look at our catalog and begin to honor, step by step, your passion.