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
Audiogon discussion board
Amp/Preamps 40k comments posted
Speakers ONLY 30k comments posted, 
Logically should be
Amps 40k, 
speakers 100k comments posted.
If you fail to make the best choice in speakers fidelity voicing, it really does not  matter which amplifer you have. Neither source, LP vs cd vs DAC vs streaming super high digital.  cabels ,, inter connects, Boutique capacitors. Tube A vs Tube B. 
None of this is of any importance if one has a  lousey speaker  Lousey =  sensitivity lower than 92db. 92db just barely makes the grade as acceptable,  At 92db,  dinasaur-ish .
Very difficult to come by traditional /xovver designs with a  92db spec. 
There might be 1 out there, but price? Weight? Again 2  obstacles  going traditional/xover. 
And thats a  big IF, at 92db. 
Wide band all begin at 94db/up.. 
Nice, super sweet.



mozartfan
 OP
669 posts
04-24-2021 11:17amAudiogon discussion board
Amp/Preamps 40k comments posted
Speakers ONLY 30k comments posted,
Logically should be
Amps 40k,
speakers 100k comments posted.


Have you done the same analysis for acoustical treatments, and I don't me SR toys.

Amp/Preamps 40k comments posted
Speakers ONLY 30k comments posted, 
Logically should be
Amps 40k, 
speakers 100k comments posted.
Or maybe they got it right.