System resolution limitations or ‘bottlenecks’ are critically important as they define the maximum performance attainable with a given set of equipment.

This is actually the most critical thing to understand about any system. Think of it this way: You can have the best pair of speakers and the most amazing source equipment in the world, but if your amplifier can only support a certain level of performance, maybe it has a cloudy or opaque sound, limited power, limited bass performance or a shouty, edgy character, you will never be able to hear beyond that limit.

Everything you play will be defined and limited by the weakest link in your system. That’s why system optimisation as a whole is so vitally important. It’s also why this topic is one of the most requested for discussion by those utilising our advisory service.

Dirty Windows

Another way to think of this is using the classic ‘dirty window’ scenario. Imagine the sharpest, most detailed image in the world being held just behind a slightly dirty pane of glass. It doesn’t matter how good that image is technically, because you will only even be able to see the amount of detail limited by that dirty window and what can be observed through it. The only solutions are to clean the glass, replace it or remove it altogether.

This can manifest in different ways for hi-fi systems. For example, sometimes people upgrade elements of their system but don’t hear much of an improvement or cannot get the most out of the improved equipment. This is because of existing system resolution bottlenecks. The only way to substantially improve the system is to remove the bottleneck, or resolution limitation. This is why getting excellent advice about systems as a whole is so important.

An opposite example I can offer direct experience with related to my Yamaha NS-1000M speakers and my recently acquired Accuphase A-75 class A power amplifier. I heard an amazing improvement with this incredible new amplifier, because I have amazing source equipment, and because of those incredibly revealing and resloving Yamaha speakers. This is a finely tuned and well-integrated system as you might expect, where elements are very well balanced to allow each to perform to their best.

Examples

Examples of system resolution limits and being surprised the results aren’t better include:

• Fitting really good cartridges to average turntables
• Using high-end MC cartridges with cheap phono preamps
• Connecting high-quality sources to low-resolution amplifiers/speakers
• Connecting high-quality balanced equipment through single-ended connections
• Using an amplifier that is much better than a pair of speakers, or vice-versa
• Using any high-end gear in an untreated or poorly treated listening room

Know Your Limits

The key to removing system resolution limits like these is to identify that they exist, understand precisely where they are, and then devise a plan to mitigate them. Naturally, we can help with this.

You might be thinking: “Mike, this is obvious!” Great, but as obvious as this concept might seem to you, I promise that most people are not good at auditing their systems properly or identifying and eliminating system resolution limitations (you don’t know what you don’t know, etc).

My best advice is to seek advice from those who really understand this concept and avoid seeking advice from those with obvious conflicts of interest, including many folks selling new hi-fi equipment for example.