2. amps-preamps
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What is proper ratio of money spent on amp/preamp/integrated vs speakers? 1:1?

Lately I'm finding more of a difference in SQ as a move up the chain in the amp/preamp/integrated market and not so much if I try to upgrade speakers.  Plus, buying and selling (and shipping) speakers is a PITA.  But having just upgraded from Devialet D200 to the dual mono D400 and loving it, it feels odd having $8000 (I'm in the used market almost exclusively) worth of power running $4000 worth of speakers, Dynaudio Contour 30's. 

I'm now wanting to upgrade again to the Expert Pro 440, but then we're taking about $10,000 and even more of a skewed ratio.
What is the proper ratio?  Thoughts?
mjmcubfn
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,835 posts
 
All of our rooms are dedicated listening rooms, we also have a dedicated Home Theater room.

Our main Showroom 1: features Echo Buster Panels, Shaki Hollographs, Acoustic System Resonators, Stein Harmonizers.

https://www.facebook.com/audiodoctor1/photos/rpp.122499304489958/2414413985298467/?type=3&theater

Showroom 2, uses Tube traps, and Acoustic Sytem Resontors, Stein Harmonizers. None pictured behind Legacy Speakers

https://www.facebook.com/audiodoctor1/photos/rpp.122499304489958/1774497322623473/?type=3&theater


Showroom 3 is a starter audio room no treatements.

https://www.facebook.com/audiodoctor1/photos/rpp.122499304489958/1781646778575194/?type=3&theater

Showroom 4 is a dedicated Home Theater room with two live walls and two dead walls, custom absorptive and diffusive panels, walls are reinforced laminates of plywood, with mass loaded vinyl, green glue and sheetrock, custom ceiling treatments, custom floor riser with tactical transducers.

https://www.facebook.com/audiodoctor1/photos/a.813391035400778/1774439705962568/?type=1&theater

Does that suffice for you, most of the high end dealers don’t have any treatments and most rooms are just sheetrock boxes.

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ


michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

Hi Audiotroy

Actually no, none of these rooms would meet our criteria for evaluating audio components.

Michael Green

hasmarto's avatar
hasmarto
209 posts
 
@sleepwalker65 , absolutely agree with you - “Do what makes you reasonably happy. Life is too short.”
audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,835 posts
 

Yes Michael most stores are not 100% compromise free.

We don’t have the luxury of having a room with just one pair of speakers.

We can assure you our rooms sound very good.

We use a balance of natural acoustics and devices designed to break up standing waves as well as using passive room tuning devices such as resonators,  Tube traps, custom acoustic panels, Shakti Holographs and Stein Harmonizers which we are sure you don’t endorse, however, many people do.

Funny we didn’t see anyone at AXPONA using Michael Green audio products wonder why?

Doubly so in terms of your clamping racks want to tell Critical Mass what they are doing wrong?

It seems that their products were all over AXPONA and again nobody was using yours.

Used to use your products at SBS they were mildly effective, seems the industry has moved beyond you perhaps?

 Michael proof is in the putting, if you were such a genius at what you do your products would be everywhere.

We can end this conversation now, the market speaks loudly.





sameyers1
140 posts
 
To go back to the original question about whether there is a model ratio for component costs, I would suggest that the speakers should determine the amplifier chosen. Rather than cost, the key issue is the power required to properly reproduce the kind of music you like at the volume you like, in the room in which you listen.  Simplistically, highly efficient speakers require less power than less efficient speakers. Large listening rooms generally require more power than smaller ones.  More power is a safer bet than not enough. 

And let’s not forget the impedance of the speakers. Speakers rated at 4 ohms need amps that can deliver the required power at that impedance, not at 8 ohms. Furthermore, some speakers function at an impedance as low as 2 ohms at some frequencies. Inexpensive amps may well noticeably distort at such a low impedance.  So try to match the speakers you like (and can afford) with an amp that can drive them and bring out the best in those speakers. 

With respect to those suggesting that $500 is all you need to spend for an amp or that an iPhone will suffice as a source, perhaps they would benefit from auditioning somewhat better equipment. Or maybe they listen primarily to rock at high volumes and can’t differentiate between the distortion of the electronic instruments used in the recording vs. that generated by their audio equipment. Listen to an acoustic guitar through an iPhone vs. a modestly priced DAC like a Dragonfly and I am reasonably confident they will hear more lifelike and otherwise improved sound. 
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