1> Importance of a powerful amp: At least 70 honest watts per channel. My reasoning is that human beings tend to get tired of any one thing - no matter how beautiful. So, beautiful smooth color of a speaker can seize to please at some moments. However, a powerful amp blows life to any recording you have - all in a deliciously different way. This way, you have "v a r i e t y", and will please you more of the times. I personally like NAD and old Marantz amps (2270) in affordable amps.
2> However, this power has tobe tamed by a soft sounding quality speaker. Not a pleasant thing to admit, but foreigners (Europeans and Canadians) do make better affordable speakers. I think emphasis on culture in their societies favor higher standards of art appreciation, and we Americans can learn from that - what's the use of being a rich country, if our citizens do not enjoy quality things in life? Athena, paradigm, missions are soft sounding speakers everyone can afford.
3> Spend 10% of your system's cost on cables!
Buying quality gears, and not getting quality cables, is defeating the purpose.
4> Some music is an acquired taste - give them a chance by listening to them a couple of times at length before making a judgement. Complex classical music is even good for the intellect, and is more lasting in enjoyment. Like an old friend, will be there to sooth our hearts - making the inevitable bumps in our lives, more bearable. We all heard of the Mozart effect - give them to children for their intellectual development, as well as for their bright disposition.
5> Give quality to our loved ones, including children. I was surprised when 7 year olds could distinguish between a fine musical instruments from the less so. Quality sounds adds something to our lives I believe, and we (audiophiles or nuts which ever you prefer) have the key to a beautiful heaven. Let's invite our loved ones to it.
2> However, this power has tobe tamed by a soft sounding quality speaker. Not a pleasant thing to admit, but foreigners (Europeans and Canadians) do make better affordable speakers. I think emphasis on culture in their societies favor higher standards of art appreciation, and we Americans can learn from that - what's the use of being a rich country, if our citizens do not enjoy quality things in life? Athena, paradigm, missions are soft sounding speakers everyone can afford.
3> Spend 10% of your system's cost on cables!
Buying quality gears, and not getting quality cables, is defeating the purpose.
4> Some music is an acquired taste - give them a chance by listening to them a couple of times at length before making a judgement. Complex classical music is even good for the intellect, and is more lasting in enjoyment. Like an old friend, will be there to sooth our hearts - making the inevitable bumps in our lives, more bearable. We all heard of the Mozart effect - give them to children for their intellectual development, as well as for their bright disposition.
5> Give quality to our loved ones, including children. I was surprised when 7 year olds could distinguish between a fine musical instruments from the less so. Quality sounds adds something to our lives I believe, and we (audiophiles or nuts which ever you prefer) have the key to a beautiful heaven. Let's invite our loved ones to it.