Complete newbie needing guidance/purchase advice

"Stringreen, that's a load of crap!"

Concise , Precise and absolutely true!!

Don't just 'buy speakers'.

Buy Speakers and amp...TOGETHER.

Of course, I'm skipping what some consider the most important part...the Source. Many would even start there.

If you buy speakers alone, you will lock yourself into an amp 'style' in that some speakers need lots of power....or an amp which can handle highly reactive loads. B&W come to mind as a speaker needing a robust amp.
Panel speakers like Magnepan need an amp with a good 4 ohm rating. Some speakers are simply happier with tubes .... some with SS.

LISTEN to them together before buying. Find a store in which to listen to stuff and get some professional help.

If you are just starting, then buy starter equipment. The phrase you used 'critical listening' tells me you may have already been influenced by the guru folks. I can only recommend what I own. POLK lsi15 $700 used. HK 3490 receiver $279 new and Marantz CD 5004 $349 new. If you have to have sacd, then the Onkyo CS5vl $369 new. A lot of people advise newbies based on the equipment that they have accured after 30 years or so, but whatever you buy it won't be the last system you own. Remember, a CD / LP containing music that makes you happy , will make any system sound great. Forget the 'critical' stuff. By the time you get through being critical, Beethoven's 9th will have finished and you will have missed it.

Pretty overwhelming amount, and variety, of information isn’t it? There is some really good info here. I’ve been going through this process for the last 2 years and have learned a lot from this forum, and my own trial-and-error process. Here is what I have learned…hopefully it will help you in your quest.

1. Each person values different things in music, and thus the system they assemble. For instance, my friend Bill really wants to hear the hi-hat cymbal shine and a really deep, textural, bass. Whereas I’m not as concerned about that as much as a beautifully smooth mid-range. Neither is right nor wrong…just what each person values in the music. You have to keep that in mind when reading reviews, or opinions from others.
2. Listening to as many speakers and amplifiers as possible is incredibly valuable. I’ve listened to probably a hundred different speaker/amplifier combos in the last 2 years. I had preconceived notions of what I was going to like…mostly based on reviews and forum opinions. It was a random visit to a stereo dealer in Salt Lake City, while on vacation, that I happened upon the speakers I would fall in love with. Speakers I had never even heard of before…the Totem Rainmakers. I absolutely love these speakers in my 2.0 winter system, and I never would have found them had I not made a point to stop in everywhere I could to listen.
3. It really does matter where the speakers are going to be used, and for what purpose. I have three speaker setups, and each one is very different…because of the intended use and location. Keep this in mind when choosing your setup. My home theatre setup is Mirage OMD-28s, with matching center and surrounds. These speakers need room around them, and ample power, to really shine. In that setting, they are amazing. My office setup is very different, with Gallo A’Divas as the satellites in a Cambridge Soundworks Model 12 system (with tube buffer of course)…as they are 6 inches off the back wall, and the only speakers that I found that work well that close to a wall. Your room is a huge factor in your setup.
4. Trust your ears…not people’s opinions. You will find those that think anything other than Tube gear is garbage, and those that think tubes are junk…you get the picture. My buddy hates tubes; I like them in the pre-amp stage, but not in the amp stage. I like class D amps, while others hate them. Listen to different systems to discover what YOU like.
5. Try and fail. I have bought things and then discovered I didn’t like them. I sold them here to people that loved them. You can buy and sell on here with little cost. I bought my Rainmakers on here, and they are in great shape. It’s a great way to try things out in your home. Don’t expect to get it right on the first try.
6. Lastly, you don’t have to spend a fortune for really wonderful sound. My main system wasn’t cheap…but my winter system cost around a grand, and is incredibly satisfying. I can listen to it all day with a smile on my face. It is easy to get wrapped up in pursuing the absolute best sound possible, but I choose to just enjoy the 95% of that I get from my system. After all, perfection doesn’t exist in the world, so why pursue it?

Hope this helps in your journey. It may get frustrating or overwhelming, but in the end you will have a system that will bring you enjoyment for a long time. Have fun with it!

Mot

"Lastly, you don’t have to spend a fortune for really wonderful sound. My main system wasn’t cheap…but my winter system cost around a grand, and is incredibly satisfying. I can listen to it all day with a smile on my face. "
Awesome post Mano!!