Hi!
Well, which way to paradise? Or how do I get to Oz from here and will I need the witches broom too?
80% of the music is made in the first 20 watts. Generally speaking.
Low power amps do a good job of limiting speaker choices. It does not mean however, it limits the end result.
To open the speaker door further, begin with a quality stable of 75 – 150wpc @ 8ohms,
Building a rig front to back, or back to front always seems the question. Back to front has apparently more subscribers than the front end to speakers devotees.
Regardless, either dedication will achieve the same result. Eventually. Unless….
The integrated amp has some power. Check out the BAT VK3000, or 3000SE. BAT used to provide an upgrade path for those who were unable or unwilling to go all in at the onset. Maybe they still do which makes the VK3000 a real upscale option as a very good starting INT arrangement.
VK-3000SE Amplifier
Number of Channels 2
Output Power at 8Ω/4Ω 150W / 300W
Frequency Response 2Hz to 180kHz
Inputs 2 XLR + 3 RCA
Input Impedance 100 kΩ minimum each phase
HT pass thru
Volume control resolution 0.5db Volume Control number of steps 140
Tube Complement 2 x 6H30
Preamplifier Outputs 1 XLR balanced output
*XLR > RCA adapters here will allow for RCA amp usage.
Tape Output 1 RCA
Speaker Outputs 2 pair gold-plated binding posts
Remote Control
Standard Options Phono (MM/MC)
Color (black,silver/black)
Dimensions (WHD) Inches 19" x 5.75" x 15.5" Weight 50 lbs
Add on an amp later. Go balanced front to back if desired, source to speakers.
Right off the speaker options are exponential with 150wpc @ 8, doubling to 300wpc @ 4. Regardless the room size. All but the most demanding panels will work well with this InT. bookshelfs, monitors, or FS, its your call.
I prefer the front to back pathway as it all begins with the signal in the first place.
Go out and buy the most speaker you can and essentially, your married to them and everything upstream has to meet their needs. Pricey squeakers will not perform optimally until the upstream components can feed them an equivalency in both POWER and Signal purity.
On the other hand, quite competent squeakers can and will deliver very satisfying accounts of themselves, provided what they are getting from the upstream items is at least decent or eventually, exceptional.
I’ve heard Reference level speakers sound ho hum, pretty good, very nice, with ho hum, pretty good, very nice front ends, but never have I heard top shelf speakers sound better than what is pushing them. EVER.
With the aforementioned front end plus top tier speakers, the most improvement in general was had from doing an upgrade to the source, or to the power train, and the best result came from both of these facets being improved upon. Although, improving upon the source device (S) gave the biggest bang for the buck. Thereafter, it was a matter of controlling the speakers with adequate power.
IMO, it seems a shame to have outstanding transducers sitting there, waiting for all the upstream appliances to come up to par.
I’ve personally experienced well more than once, an exceptional presentation which commanded a lot of ‘they are here’ using a pair of $4K retail FS quite popular so so speakers, once the source and power train was improved and obviously well in advance of the cost of the speakers. $8K source; $10K line pre; $7500 mono blocks; $$2K racks & stands; 7K wires and conditioners.
Naturally then, it was time to upgrade the speakers.
The predominate caveat in either philosophy will be the ‘synergy’, as previously stated. Finding a one size fits all speaker is nearly impossible. Especially if you have a spouse. One that lives with you. one that might even help out with the bills. Now there is the real caveat for acquiring ‘synergy’ in the system, and otherwise.
Shuffling in and out components is much easier than dragging around speakers, and as such, once one is satisfied with the front end, the room, and the speaker esthetics, the budget will pretty much dictate how deep into the speaker waters one will be able to wade. Meaning, speaker choices narrow rapidly once you have satisfied all the other areas of the rig… and perhaps the ‘relationship’, IMHO.
Were I ever to go down the ‘speakers’ first boulevard, they would have to be something I could live with for a very long time. A very long time indeed. Flexible3 enough as well to accommodate glass power too, not just Sand current.
The only path audiophiles hate to hear is to do their rooms first. Nobody likes that approach and it usually is the final piece of the puzzle that is addressed. I really feel if the room is addressed first, a lot of issues won’t be cropping up later or during the building process.
In any case, if you keep being smart, all roads lead to Rome… someday.
Be well, J
