Amp more important than speakers?


The common wisdom seems to be the opposite (at least from speaker makers), but I have tried the many speakers that have come thru my house on lesser amps or my midfi A/V receiver and something was always very wrong, and things often sounded worse than cheap speakers.
On the other hand, I have tried many humble speakers on my my really good amps (& source) and heard really fine results.

Recently I tried my Harbeth SHL5s (& previously my Aerial 10Ts, Piega P10s, and others) on the receiver or even my Onkyo A9555 (which is nice with my 1985 Ohm Walsh 4s, which I consider mid-fi), and the 3 high end speakers sounded boomy, bland, opaque.

But when I tried even really cheap speakers on my main setup (Edge NL12.1 w/tube preamp) I got very nice results
(old Celestion SL6s, little Jensen midfi speakers).

So I don't think it's a waste of resources to get great amplification and sources even for more humble speakers.
My Harbeth SHL5s *really* benefit from amps & sources that are far more expensive than the Harbeths.

Once I had Aerial 10Ts that sounded like new speakers with vocals to die for when I drove them with a Pass X350 to replace an Aragon 8008.

Oh well, thanks for reading my rambling thoughts here...

So I think I would avoid pairing good speakers with lesser amps,
rgs92

Showing 7 responses by audiofeil

Rodman9999,
This should come as no surprise for anybody that knows how to build a system.

It's simply common sense and nothing more.
>>06-27-11: Tmsorosk
Without the right amp your system will never reach it's potential<<

Without speakers that satisfy a listener, the right amp is a moot point.
If you check the closest mirror orifice10, the answer will be crystal clear.

LOL
If you fall in love with a speaker, then find an amp to match it.

There are no rules it must be a tube amplifier. Unless you manufacture tube amplifiers.

Speakers first.
>>07-01-11: Atmasphere
Audiofeil, I am sure you are aware that there are many people who don't agree with you.<<

Agreed and many who do agree with me.

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

The market clearly supports my point.
>>07-01-11: Inna
It should be possible to match any good speakers to tube amps. If it is not then those speakers are either junk......<<

So how about those 1 ohm Apogee Scintillas?

:-)