Speakers are the first piece of the puzzle

Interesting topic as always. What came first, the chicken or the egg? Let me ask, when one becomes dissatisfied with the sound of their system, what do they change out first? Cables, amp, source, footers (giggle)? I'll bet speakers. Ultimately, that is where the sound (music) eminates from. It's the obvious choice. In many years of this wonderful and sometimes baffling hobby I have found all the links in the chain have an affect on the sound. Personally, I find the speakers have the final say. I've never had a source or amp (or cables) that I couldn't live with. I have had speakers that just didn't cut it (to my ears). Enjoy the ride...

Well, you have to start somewhere! First, you have to have a room. This seems obvious, but don’t laugh. Consider the size of the room, what other uses are going to be made of it, how much room do you have for audio stuff. For example, my all-time favorite loudspeaker for “realism” is the Magnepan. But that speaker has very demanding placement requirements and needs a lot of room. So, yeah, start with the speaker, considering how it’s going to work in your room, visually and aurally. And are your own speaker tastes a little idiosyncratic; I.e. are you “horny?” Then, think about the amplifier. How much power do you need to make your chosen speakers sing? If you’re a tuber, you should favor speakers closer to 90 dB @ 1 watt efficient and be aware that, as a rule, tube amps interact with conventional speakers idiosyncratically, so consider the speakers and amp as a package. With sources, your first question should be: which ones? Today, there are 3 choices: vinyl records, stored digital (including the shiny discs and downloads) and streaming audio. If you don’t own any existing media - or own digital only - I’d suggest a DAC, a network player/streamer and some sort of NAS (which, initially, can be your computer). There are also units that combine one or more of these functions, including a DAC/preamp which includes an analog input to allow for the possibility of getting into vinyl.
Or you just cut the BS and buy a pair of KEF LS50 “wireless” (you still have to plug ‘em in).  Add a streamer and some NAS and you’re good to go.

Hey Jim,

You and I have sort of discussed this a few times. For me, the first if you wlll, step, is speakers and amplification. When a speaker is matched with the most suitable amplification, it can do it’s job best. But if the source is not up to the task, you will still have subpar sound.

I don’t think the speaker has to be the biggest part of the budget. I heard a system a few weeks back that the amp/pre was over twice the cost of the speakers and it sounded pretty amazing. It was Sabrina/Nagra Classic. Add an amazing source and you really have something. This is just a personal example, not meant to be an endorsement.

Now to questions 2 - 4.

2. First speakers were in around 1974 or 75. I mowed lawns and saved and bought my first stereo, an MCS receiver and tape deck with a pair of small two-way speakers given to me by my uncle. Upgraded to an all-MCS system a few years later. It sounded great in the store and great at home.

3. Kept them a few years.

4. my next system in the 80’s was bought based on listening and specs. Bought parts of it from a military catalog. I got lucky and it sounded pretty good.

My speakers/amplification first approach has come from my many years of going to shows and dealers. I’ve heard speakers sound mediocre with the wrong amplification and very good with more synergistic electronics. Or another way to say it is when speakers/amplification are well matched, you know what that sounds like. It is not so easy to mix-n-match these days with so many choices.

Most importantly, let YOUR ears be the guide. I’ve listened to others recommendations for systems (speakers/amp/source) and at least some of them I thought didn’t work together well at all.

Room acoustics are perhaps the biggest factor to consider up front because that can only practically be changed to a certain extent. You have relatively little control over room acoustics compared to the gear you put in the room. Room acoustics affect how the speakers sound so getting that integration right should be priority 1.

Next most important then is having the right amp to drive the speakers. There may be many ways to get the amp speaker integration right. Less efficient speakers may require a beefier amp. A lower power amp will require larger more efficient speakers. Many ways to skin that cat depending on personal priorities.

I have always said that speakers contribute 70% of the sound of the system. If you don't like the basic sound of a speaker there is nothing you can do to substantially change it. I have put together at least 25 systems for friends in my life. It has always been speaker first. I would tell you to find a speaker that you really like, buy it and then worry about the rest. If you have a speaker you love it is perrty hard to mess it up. But you can have the best sources in the world and still wind up with a crappy sounding system. Remember the speaker is the only thing in your system that actual makes sound. All other components are heard thru the speaker
Alan