Speakers are the first piece of the puzzle


Hello All!

This is aimed at understanding one particularly prominent posture on mapping out how to proceed in amassing a great audio outfit with speakers being the most significant ingredient, and initial purchase.

From the Audiogon pages alone, if you read between the lines, one can find that there are several approaches for how to erect an outstanding audio system as to which component should be the initial or by some accounts the largest system investment, or both everytime.

IMHO, The predominant system establishing camps are speakers first, amps first, or sources first. in deference to topologies such as panels vs cones, tubes vs. SS, analog vs. digital, as those preferences are options within options.

For the record, I’m not a card carrying member of the ‘speakers first’ organization. And see an eventually proud highly resolving great sounding system as a work in progress which begins where ever and endss when ever.


So, lets get to the lightening round…Questions:

1. why do you feel any system should begin life with speaker s the first building block AND its greatest investment?

2. which speakers were your first system build?

3. How long did you keep them?

4. were later speaker systems brought in prior to any other ‘component’ changes?

In other words, has the ‘speaker first and always’ theme been your blueprint forever, or at some later point, reveal itself as a much better plan?

tremendous gratitude for all the input.
blindjim

Showing 1 response by mapman

Room acoustics are perhaps the biggest factor to consider up front because that can only practically be changed to a certain extent. You have relatively little control over room acoustics compared to the gear you put in the room. Room acoustics affect how the speakers sound so getting that integration right should be priority 1.

Next most important then is having the right amp to drive the speakers. There may be many ways to get the amp speaker integration right. Less efficient speakers may require a beefier amp. A lower power amp will require larger more efficient speakers. Many ways to skin that cat depending on personal priorities.