@optimize “Have you done the experiment that you go to ASR and look up the WORST measuring power amplifier that Amir has measured.”
+1
That is an excellent idea! I believe my best system is somewhere in the middle range of all this currently and it would be a heck of a lot easier and cheaper to find out where the bottom is then the top. I currently own four different systems that are made with components that I have tried to select representing different styles and technologies of sound reproduction. One system is a 1970s Kenwood KR1400 10 watt per channel receiver and 1970s acoustic research 2ax speakers and at the upper end of my investment is a First Watt f6 and Kef ls50s and 3 Syzygy subwoofers. There are differences for sure but they tend to be more of flavor than absolute quality. I find I can enjoy music a lot on all my systems! Moving from one to the other is the sort of education that you suggest. For me it is what this hobby is really all about,
I do things that you purposely shouldn’t do like pairing that receiver with power-hungry speakers like the acoustic researches. Just to see how bad it can be. And you know what it usually isn’t so bad.