OK-- I think I get it, now...

The next time I visited the speakers were back against the wall. 

Once had a close girlfriend who sought my advice and trusted me implicitly on audio matters. She signed off on a excellent lower-budget system with source,, amp, speakers etc., and she went to buy it at the dealership I'd lined up for her. I asked her a few weeks later how it was going. She confessed that all she really needed was a single Sonus unit and that's what she bought instead.

@hshifi:

"Very smart purchase"

Well, it was for me anyway-- not necessarily for everyone. It's not the most detailed amp nor is it as warm as First Watt or some tube gear. My goals were improving bass control and resolution (without the unwanted side-effect of fatiguing highs) and the Hegel dishes up both, in spades. I honestly had no idea that an amp upgrade, by itself, could result in such dramatic results. It's always nice when a piece of gear exceeds one's expectations, right? 

Hello,

What I have learned about Hifi is that the amp can be very important. What is more important is the preamp. It is the heart and soul of your system. I have tried putting really killer amps on home theater prepro’s. It may go louder but it still sounds very similar to what I had before. Now put a killer preamp on an ok amp and you have something that can sound a lot better. Plus, the DAC in the Hegel is very nice. You set out to acquire a certain sound and I think you nailed it. I hope you keep enjoying it for a long time. 

Apparently, up until now, the Silverlines have been denied the sort of amplification that would permit them to perform at their best. 

Yes and not only amplification. What you're noticing is really good speakers don't sound good. Really good speakers don't sound like anything. All the best stuff does is let you hear what's there to be heard. So if you use crap source, amp, or wire the good speakers will let you hear just how crappy they are. 

The same is true for everything. Every wire, DAC, cartridge, fuse. The better they are the less effect they have on the sound. Pretty much the opposite of what everyone says, but there you have it.

Enjoy!

I met my wife about 20 years ago, via an online dating source that catered to Classical Music listeners, now out of business.  When the relationship blossomed and I began spending time at her place her "system" consisted of an ancient Pioneer receiver that was staticky in one channel, and two speakers that were Bose cubes on top of matching bookshelves , placed just below the ceiling facing backwards.   Her priority was making the gear as unobtrusive as possible. I was in love but listening to music with her at her condo was painful.

  After a few months  she stepped out for a couple of hours during which I placed a new receiver, DVD player, and two B&W book shelf speakers on small stands.  The sound was about 8000% improved but she was not pleased.  I realize now that was a step to far for her for multiple reasons., not all of them being musical.   So different strokes for for different folks.