Whats more important? Speaker or the Amp

Give me a great speaker and an old used amp and I will be happy. In fact, I have a $20 Luxman that is actually impressive.

I will buy the best speakers first according to your listening taste, budget, and WAF. Then start saving again and hunt for the appropriate amp that will go well with your speakers.

How do you know what amp to buy if you do not know how demanding your speakers are? Just like you want to buy the tires first when they are on sale without knowing what car you are going to buy.

If you have your dream speakers, you will have the motive to get extra cash (legal or not) to get a good amp asap. You will suffer a bit in the short run. If you need 5 years to save up the money for the amp, then it is another story.

If you don't match the speaker to your room acoustics, the money you spend on the rest of your system is a complete waste (well, almost). You will never appreciate the differences between higher quality source, amplifiers, cables etc. if you don't (first) get the speakers/room right. At least, that has been my experience.

I am decidedly in the "speakers are more important" camp. They are the transducers, going from electrical to mechanical energy. In addition, they interface *directly* with the room. Get the speakers right for the room and the amp is a doddle.

One other thing, I'd MUCH rather bring amps in and out of my house than speakers - think about it.

-RW-