I agree that system synergy has no set rules.
And as already pointed out, it's not easy to listen to stuff pre purchase these days.
I ended up using a combination I heard at a local hifi meeting, it just sounded right to me. I teamed my Pass Labs Pre Amp with another guys Neurochrome 686 Monoblocks and someone else's Canton CT-1000/2 speakers from the 1980's. I was so impressed with this set up, I ordered the monoblocks within a couple of days and searched the classified's till I found a set of the same speakers.
It may not be every ones cup of tea, but does it for me, you can't beat hearing for yourself, regardless of what the reviews or other users say. I've heard some expensive gear, all excellent pieces in their own right, just not work well together. On the other hand, we have put some weird combinations together at our meetings, that just had no right to sound so damn good.
I hope he finds what he's looking for, but some of the fun is in the journey, it took me 15 years to find my nirvana.
??? How Do You Determine How Far You Can Take An Amp When Choosing Speakers ???
Talking to a friends son today who is only a few years into this hobby..He’s moved up from an all in one home theater system to a gently used Peachtree Audio Nova ( Gen.1 ) that his dad had sitting in a box the last few years..
As he is an Electrical Engineering student, he’s gone through the amp & refurbished it with new caps,resistors,transistors & a new 6922 tube from Gold Lion...
His speakers are also hand me downs from pops..A set of original Dynaudio Audience 52’s..While discussing speaker upgrades he asked me the same question I posted in my thread title..I honestly didn’t know how to answer him..
I’ve always worked on the budget basis,seeking out the best option for my given price range..He’s already making $ hand over fist & he stated flatly he didn’t have a budget in mind,being willing to spend as much as it took to get the absolute best speakers his amp would support..
At some point in the future I’m sure he will finally get the urge to upgrade the amp but that could be many years from now..
So the question I pose to you is, how would you determine just how much speaker your choosen amp will sing with before becoming the weakest link in the system?Twice the retail value of the amp?3 times,5 times,10?
I realize most common system building dogma dictates choosing speakers first then buying an amp for them but he's already got the amp so that doesn't work here...
I know synergy between speakers & amp plays some importance in the final overall sound but he lives in an area not known for being an audio store hotspot & dragging his amp to stores several hundred miles away seems like a real PITA...Any advice?