Speakers are the first piece of the puzzle

Speakers alter the sound more than any other component, maybe, unless we’re including analog sources. This should not be surprising, because the speakers must convert the electrical signals to sound waves through mechanical means. Thus, they distort the sound far more than any DAC, amplifier or CD transport.

Whether it’s prudent to buy a particular part of the chain before the others is endlessly debatable.

The OP has it right with the thread title.  The speakers' sensitivity spec and overall performance needs will inform your amplification.  If you're in the ultra high efficiency mode then you can be looking at SETs that have those few, but glorious watts necessary for your speakers.

In my case, with low efficiency speakers, I knew that a higher power SS or perhaps prohibitively expensive tube beasty was going to be in house.

After that it's an allocation of available $ as to the sources, line stage (if needed), cables power conditioning, footers, yada yada yada.  For me it's the yada stuff that's fun.  Eaking out that last bit of musicality by attention to the minute details of the system and room is where the fun is for me. (With the obvious exception of opening the box of new gear for the first time).  Hey...who out there doesn't love that new car smell?

Interesting topic as always. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Let me ask, when one becomes dissatisfied with the sound of their system, what do they change out first? Cables, amp, source, footers (giggle)? I'll bet speakers. Ultimately, that is where the sound (music) eminates from. It's the obvious choice. In many years of this wonderful and sometimes baffling hobby I have found all the links in the chain have an affect on the sound. Personally, I find the speakers have the final say. I've never had a source or amp (or cables) that I couldn't live with. I have had speakers that just didn't cut it (to my ears). Enjoy the ride...

Well, you have to start somewhere! First, you have to have a room. This seems obvious, but don’t laugh. Consider the size of the room, what other uses are going to be made of it, how much room do you have for audio stuff. For example, my all-time favorite loudspeaker for “realism” is the Magnepan. But that speaker has very demanding placement requirements and needs a lot of room. So, yeah, start with the speaker, considering how it’s going to work in your room, visually and aurally. And are your own speaker tastes a little idiosyncratic; I.e. are you “horny?” Then, think about the amplifier. How much power do you need to make your chosen speakers sing? If you’re a tuber, you should favor speakers closer to 90 dB @ 1 watt efficient and be aware that, as a rule, tube amps interact with conventional speakers idiosyncratically, so consider the speakers and amp as a package. With sources, your first question should be: which ones? Today, there are 3 choices: vinyl records, stored digital (including the shiny discs and downloads) and streaming audio. If you don’t own any existing media - or own digital only - I’d suggest a DAC, a network player/streamer and some sort of NAS (which, initially, can be your computer). There are also units that combine one or more of these functions, including a DAC/preamp which includes an analog input to allow for the possibility of getting into vinyl.
Or you just cut the BS and buy a pair of KEF LS50 “wireless” (you still have to plug ‘em in).  Add a streamer and some NAS and you’re good to go.

Hey Jim,

You and I have sort of discussed this a few times. For me, the first if you wlll, step, is speakers and amplification. When a speaker is matched with the most suitable amplification, it can do it’s job best. But if the source is not up to the task, you will still have subpar sound.

I don’t think the speaker has to be the biggest part of the budget. I heard a system a few weeks back that the amp/pre was over twice the cost of the speakers and it sounded pretty amazing. It was Sabrina/Nagra Classic. Add an amazing source and you really have something. This is just a personal example, not meant to be an endorsement.

Now to questions 2 - 4.

2. First speakers were in around 1974 or 75. I mowed lawns and saved and bought my first stereo, an MCS receiver and tape deck with a pair of small two-way speakers given to me by my uncle. Upgraded to an all-MCS system a few years later. It sounded great in the store and great at home.

3. Kept them a few years.

4. my next system in the 80’s was bought based on listening and specs. Bought parts of it from a military catalog. I got lucky and it sounded pretty good.

My speakers/amplification first approach has come from my many years of going to shows and dealers. I’ve heard speakers sound mediocre with the wrong amplification and very good with more synergistic electronics. Or another way to say it is when speakers/amplification are well matched, you know what that sounds like. It is not so easy to mix-n-match these days with so many choices.

Most importantly, let YOUR ears be the guide. I’ve listened to others recommendations for systems (speakers/amp/source) and at least some of them I thought didn’t work together well at all.