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Speakers The single most critical component

I know we've been over this Q hundreds of X's over the past 20 years here on audion, You can find dozen of topics dealing with this Q <which is the ,,,,most important component...>>
well time for yet 1 more topic dealing with this,, perhaps unanswered, un-resolved issue.
I'm bringing up the old hachet due to my recent experience acutally hearinga FR in my system. 
Let me tell you, there is not even 1 traditional/conventioanl/xover design <The Boxed Type>> in the world that could convince me  , there is something that will beat out FR (caveat, FR requires  some sort of high sens =sensitivity, tweeter)  in  the Boxy world of speakers.
That is to say, FR + Compression Horn is the future of 21st Century high fidelity. 
One lab has already brought us these ~~~SHF~~~ aka SuperHighFidelity  single drivers. 
The code word here is ~~SHF~~~ which can not never be employed when describing xover/trad/conventioanl style  aka The Box designs. db level under 91 are _<<IN-EFFICIENT>> , = dysfunctional, out dated, old school , = Dinasaurs. 
For amps, I only consider tube amps (PP and SET) as ~~SHF~~~ I can not include ss amps in this topic. 
IMHO all well made tube amps sound very close,
 a  kt88 in brand X will sound  close to brand Y. 
So amplification takes a  distant 2nd place in critical component.  No need to break the bank buying amp A vs  a  lower priced kt88 amp B
CD players, nearly all  tube DAC's , tube cdp-ers sound  close. No need to braek the bank over X vs Y.
My Jadis DAC is  only miniscule gain over the Shanling,
 the Shanling
only a  miniscule gain over the Cayin CD17. 
Now as for  best source  , phonograph is the ideal playback medium vs cds. 
I have some LP's now , but my main collection are classical cds, most not on LP version. Cables , I did note some gains employing silver/copper wiring throughout my entire system including inside the Defy.
Tweak worthy.
New Mundorf caps in all componets, tweak worthy. 
Yet the main central component remaisn the speakers.
Here is where  the entire audio resolution either rises to Nirvana or falls to <<distortion/muddy waters,/pollution/anti-fidelity  voicing  issues.
Your system's fidelity is ultimately dependent on what speaker  you have chosen to employ.
Forget all you've learned over the years, 
The new mantra is <,The speaker is key component>
All else is just extra tweaks/nuances. 
To sum up, a  ~~SHF~~ driver will match even the top of line Wilson weighing in at hundreds of lbs priced $$$$$$$ overa single FR driver. 
FR beats out any/all xover box design speakers. Mostly due to that key specification ~~db level~~~ which is everything in speaker design and thus in resolution/fidelity. 

mozartfan
audition__audio
1,339 posts
 
Mozartfan,

Your last sentence is ridiculous and simply one person's perspective. I think a very strong case can be made that FR speakers have more weaknesses than strengths. I know of few experienced enthusiasts that havent heard good FR designs and moved on from this type for some very obvious reasons. Enough of the blathering! 
mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
Mute , not adding anything to the converstaion. 
Lets pretend the new developments in wide band single source drivers, do not exist.
Lets continue in the 1970's AR/Bose/B&W speaker journey. 
Those who decide to switch over will be richly rewarded. 
I have not heard even 1 complaint concerning FR speakers,  descriptions of only the highest accolades , experience gushing  with shouts of joy and praise. 
Still not 1 taker on my Seas Thors, which just so  happen to be the King of all speaker designs in the low db range. 
Hows that for demand in  ya old designs. 
rspyder
98 posts
 
I think the speaker is the last piece in the audio upgrade path for two reasons:
- It is literally at the end of the actual signal path.
- Based on my experience and other hobbyists I respect, virtually every relatively descent pair of speakers will rise to the occasion if you feed them the best possible signal.

Based on the above, my approach is to refine/upgrade the elements ahead of the speaker until I truly hit the point of diminishing marginal returns.  Then it's time to upgrade the speakers.


mozartfan OP
2,143 posts
 
I think the speaker is the last piece in the audio upgrade path for two reasons:

~~~~~~~~~~~
Interesting, but no cigar, at least 2 old seasoned audiophiles in this  thread have already concurred with my position.
The speaker voices the electrons hz flow. 
Speakers determine  the voice of your sysytem.
Its like the voice on a  human, speakers are the vocal chords  in your system. 
I really can't stand xover designs, They are inefficient and bleed dry the other components, like a  blood sucking leech. 
If FR designs  did not exist I would not be at all interested in   hifi audio. 
audition__audio
1,339 posts
 
Mozart,
Let it go man! Yes there have been some significant improvements in full range drivers recently but the only real advantage is the lack of a crossover (which is significant). Must you continue to try to recruit for your "tribe"? 
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