Some practical aspects of high-fidelity design

Modern day practices in designing high-fidelity equipment make necessary certain knowledge concerning the characteristics of components and complete reproducing systems. Some of these characteristics are often overlooked and many times some are overemphasized. Since a listener can hear music reproduced on nothing less than a complete system of some kind, the system characteristics should be those of primary concern. Component evaluation should be based primarily on the considerations involved in placement in a system, and certain parameters of components should maintain their proper relationships to each other. Much criticism today is directed toward basic theory of operation instead of the shortcomings of existing designs. An attempt is being made here to place some of these characteristics in their proper perspective and to point out certain fallacies that exist in the thinking of some people who have not had the opportunity to delve into the practical aspects of high-fidelity design problems. Everything is treated with the view of eventual placement in a complete system. Correlation of measurements and listening tests is an important factor.