Gonna see if I can ask this question correctly:
A phono cartridge can change how a vinyl record sounds quite significantly. But if I have to choose between upgrading to a high end cartridge or to a high end stereo, which will make a more noticeable difference and how?
Now with CD’s, what would greatly alter the sound the most? The player or the stereo?
The speakers are also at play in this and even wires and all the pieces like pre-amps, etc. when I’m asking this question.
But what singular piece of equipment can effect how something sounds, and will it change from source to source (cd’s, vinyl, digital, etc.)?
What you are ultimately hearing are the SPEAKERS, so an upgrade there can make a difference.
Others will say that the most critical factor is the Source, because if you haven’t captured it at the source, then you haven’t captured it at all.
To give you my perspective, this is how I break down the Budget of a Stereo System -
Notice emphasis on Speakers. Though these numbers are not etch in stone. You can change them based on your own priorities and based on the specific equipment you find.
Let’s say you want to buy everything listed, and have a budget of $10,000. We add up the number of ‘x’ which is 6x total. Divide that into $10,000 and we have this -
Despite the $10,000 Price Tag, that is a somewhat modest system.
But that does give you a general idea of how I would sort my priorities. For me, while I don’t skimp on other things, the Speakers are the most important.
Again, individual priorities and preferences can alter this to taste.
And then we have to consider how the ROOM effects the sound. A particular room might be fantastic for Bookshelf speakers, but not handle large Floorstanding. So, the Room matters to the Speakers.
A Stylus/Cartridge on a Turntable will make a difference because it is mechanical. It touches the grooves, and how well it touches the groove will determine how well it sounds.
However, electronic components matter a bit less. CD Player for example, most CD Transport Mechanisms are about the same, so the decoding of the Digital Data, the quality of the DAC, and the quality of the Analog Circuits can effect how the device ultimately sounds. You can buy a CD player for about $250 or you can buy a CD Player for about $15,000. One assumes that the $15,000 model has substantial quality of build and electronics.
I think, unless you are a Billionaire, you don’t go for the best of the best, you go for a system that is reasonably balanced relative to the rest of the equipment.
When is comes to Network Player, the same applies to the Electronics, but a Network Player has one additional aspect, and that is the Software you interact with. The best hardware in the world, relative to a Network Player, can be let down if the User Interface is a mess.
When you say “Stereo” I assume you are referring to the Amp/Receiver. If you have the perfect Amp/Receiver, it has no sound. It neither adds, subtracts, or alters the sound in any way. But that’s a perfect amp and few of those truly exist. So rather than chase perfection, find something you like, and stick with that.
Seek Balance in your system relative to your Budget and your Room. And that’s the best you can do.