Whats more important? Speaker or the Amp


I am curious to hear what people have to say about the subject. Feel free to vent.
rkerv
>>Totally untrue.<<

Not so sure about that. Take the Magnepan MMG. Use any amplification you can find. It will still be one of the better systems under 1000 dollars.
I have to disagree with some of you here. If you have a great speaker, there is no way it will sound all that great if it exposes a poor amplifier. EX.: try putting a cheap transistor amp on a good horn system- you will regret it.

Ex.: put a cheap transistor amp on a set of Sound Labs- *no way* will the speaker live up to its capability.

Ex.: try putting an SET on a set of B&W 802s. -Sorry!

Ex.: put a cheap transistor *or* cheap tube amp on a set of Magnaplanar MG20.1s. What a waste!

Ex.: put a set of Rogers LS3/5as on of the bigger Ayre transistor amps- will you realize the capabilities of the amp? no! and no slight to the Rogers either but the two simply will not show each other off.

I have dozens of such examples. My advice- if you plan to buy a Masarati put a decent set of tires on it. If you get a really nice speaker put a really nice amp on it.

OTOH you could just take a wad of hundred dollar bills, go up stairs and flush then down the loo in the master bedroom. The effect will be the same :)
I won't part with my speakers, that have been the only permanent item in my main system for 10+ years that are in storage in another continent (not the makeshift/cheap system I have listed here on audiogon), so I would have to say 1 more vote for speakers!
I believe the speakers are the first consideration between the two. Speakers have to be chosen to work in a given room, which can vary quite a bit. Speakers are probably the least accurate component in a system, therfore one should find speakers that are the least objectionable to one's unique sensibilities (or lack there of). Of course that doesn't mean you should choose inapropriate amplifcation. Of course, I'm a hypocrite as my amplifier costs more than my speakers. In my defense, I chose my speakers first, and then decided on amplification, and I doubt I would have chosen this particular amplifier to power the other speaker options I considered.
I have to disagree with some of you here. If you have a great speaker, there is no way it will sound all that great if it exposes a poor amplifier
Ditto. Out of nowhere, the age-old insistence upon amplifier/speaker synergy has transformed into the suggestion that any amp'll do. Not so. Witness how the amplifier suddenly becomes the most important component of your system when it is the reason your speakers don't sound their best. I'm not convinced you can evaluate the importance of one independently from the other.