SPeakers 90% of your sound

Phasecorrect, that's silly.

If you or anybody else in this thread really believe that there are only very minute differences at best between a $500 amp and a $5000 amp, well...,

..., let's just say you must be looking at the wrong amps or you're shopping at the wrong stores.

This statement is hard to believe. I can't think that anybody would make a broadbrushed statement like this for any product. Much less any one group of audio components, and specifically amplifiers.

Well, maybe speaker cable supporters, but even that's pushing things a bit.

Now keep in mind, I'm not talking about the costs here. Because it is entirely possible that the hypothetical $500 amp may very well blow away the $5000 amp sonically. i.e. the Odyssey Stratos at $1000 comes to mind.

Same thing if one were to compare one $500 amp to another $500 amp. One could easily wax the the other even though they cost the same.

-IMO

Stehno...I was trying to emphasize a point and I probably over did it a bit...but the bottom line...and you even touched upon this...hi pricetags dont guarantee hifi...and the law of diminishing returns can be brutal...there are some truly outstanding intergrateds in that 1k range(and even below)...and going much beyond that can be overkill...however....part of the fun of being an audiophile is overkill! RIght?

Sorry, Phasecorrect. I obviously took your words only at face value.

Did I mention I'm a fundamentalist? Yup. Metho-Baptyrian.

-IMO

Phasecorrect, there are many ways to set up a system. Some folks like to get the speakers first and then look for the amp to match it. Some other folks like to get the amp and source setup first before getting the speaker to match it. Either case is fine depends on what you prefer.
This is not Chicken or egg debate. Which ever way comes first is fine.
I choose the speaker first because of the size and look requirement. In this case, I would try out different amps. Chaing amps can be very dramatic.
If you already have nice amp and source and you're looking the get a speaker to match the amp then speaker change can be dramatic to your setup.
In my opinon, both amp and speakers are equally important to system matching. I do think both made up a good 60% of your system. You then have the other 40% to play with the other components (source, cable, preamp, tweaks)
Since your room is fixed value (unless you plan to switch rooms), I do not take it into consideration when you purchase your equipment (assuming you only use your room as the reference listening room.)

Ah, to hear even a mediocre system in a great room would change many minds here. The room is without question, to my mind and experience the single most important factor in good sound. It will expose both weaknesses and strenghs of a system, as noted above, to a greater degree than any component. Speakers and amp interface are equal, pre-amp sends the small signal to the amp/speaker and is second to the room.

The source is very important in that it can really improve dramatically the system performance beyond getting the room, pre-amp, speaker/amp right. A great source component in a system that is flawed downstream is not going to make a disernable difference.

I believe it so much that I am in the process of finally carrying out what I believe to be true, designing and building a dedicated room. It seems at this point to be the best investment I can make in improving what I currently have which in my estimation isn't even close to being realized.