Let's talk about audio equipment classes. I constantly hear from my clients and in paid consultations about what class of sound card, DAC, amplifier, and speaker system they use, and that even the most popular Class D system is unlikely to produce sound that can satisfy the listener's needs. But what if it is? What if this entire class system is very loosely related to the specific consumer's sound expectations, and it's not always worth chasing expensive equipment?
What is the purpose of the class system, and how does it tacitly encourage buying more and more expensive equipment? A smart user will ask the right question, "Is it worth it?" Let's figure it out.
I'd love to hear comments from subscribers and channel guests about those who have changed classes, where they started, what they used later, what they settled on, what features they've discovered, and what differences they've discovered.