Amp more important than speakers?

For the last 50 years or so there's been the tubes/transistors debate. I really do wonder how that can be and speakers more important than the amplifier given how willing people are to debate that topic. If you don't like tubes, you'll get a solid state amp, right? And vice versa.


One thing is sure: if the amp isn't bringing home the bacon, there's no way the speaker will make up for it.

Speakers and amps are not a chicken and egg thing. They have to work together.

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If the two do not work together no amount of cash will fix it.

Picking the speaker first is not a good idea. Many people think it is, but then find out later that they are thus married to a certain kind of electronics to make that speaker work.

The fact of the matter is you have to do research. For example, if you prefer tubes, you can't just buy a speaker that you fell in love with and make it work if the speaker is incompatible with tubes. You'll be flushing money down the loo chasing *that* conundrum.

Amps and speakers have to be compatible. For example, I know someone that is a big fan the B&W 802. But that speaker is not designed to work with tubes, and this guy really likes tubes. He has bought amplifier after amplifier trying to make the 802s work. But the simple fact is that that speaker is designed to work with transistors- the amplifier has to be capable of constant voltage in order to play bass right. Now most tube amps don't make constant voltage and even though they are often much better than transistors in playing bass, in this case it simply won't work.

Another example: Sound Labs. Dick Olsher recently give them Best Sound at Show. If you fall in love with them, and you otherwise like to play transistor amps you will be having a very frustrating time- with transistors the speaker appears very power hungry and its hard to make them play bass and not sound really bright. It has to do with the impedance curve of the speaker- most 600 watt transistor amps will not make over 150 watts on that speaker.

The *match* between the amp and speaker is what you seek.

There are no rules it must be a tube amplifier.

Audiofeil, I am sure you are aware that there are many people who don't agree with you on this. That is why the tube industry continues to exist 50 years after being declared 'obsolete'. However, we do agree that the amp must match the speaker.

Stickman451, sorry, speaker choice without taking the amp into consideration will lead to expensive mistakes. If you think otherwise you will be a great resource to your local dealer.

My point is there are no rules that it must be a tube amplifier.

The market clearly supports my point.

Audiofeil, Well said by one who sells both tubes and transistors.

Both of us point to the market to support our positions.

In the end, it is the user who makes the rules (not you and not me), and if their rules say 'no transistor amps' (perhaps because they don't care for the sound of transistors) then the speaker must match. You make an excellent example of the Apogee- not the best load for a tube amp. So in this case, no matter how much one loves that speaker, it will be an exercise in frustration if the match between the speaker and the amp was not sought first.