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Which to Upgrade first? My Amplifier or Speakers

I have owned a nice system for years, but I am hardly an audiophile.  You people impress me with your depth of knowledge of audio.  I've been following this site for some time.  This is my first post. 
From time to time I replace or upgrade components.  I've got a tricked out Linn Sondek LP 12 turntable.  I recently acquired a McIntosh MP 100 phono amp and am hearing LP's now that exceed anything I've heard on CD's and equal if not exceed the output of my SACD's.  I bring this up only to give a flavor of what I listen to.
The issue is as follows:  I have a McIntosh MC 206 Amp that I bought in 2003 that puts out 200 watts per channel.  I have no issues with it, although I've never had anything to compare it with.  I've read some impressive reviews of how much of a difference an amplifier can make to the quality of sound output.  For speakers I have Magnepan 3.6R's that I also bought in 2003.  I love them.  I can only afford to upgrade one at a time - let's say in the neighborhood of 10 - 12K.  So,  I'd like to hear what this august body has to say about which I should upgrade first and why?  The amp or the speakers?  Thank you. 
normantaylor
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Which to Upgrade first? My Amplifier or Speakers

If you do both, then get the speakers first, then the right amp to drive the speakers.

Amps drive speakers, speakers don’t drive amps.

No use getting the amp first, then get the speakers and finding out the amp not going the drive them fully to their best.

Then you could get a amp first like a $$$$$$$$ Gryphon Antillion Evo, that will do anything

Cheers George
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
Don't worry about the double listing; others do this at times. Your rationale is correct, there are some who spend time in one forum and do not in others. No big deal. You are casting  the net as wide as possible. 
rauliruegas
13,129 posts
 
Dear @normantaylor:  "  There are no treatments to my living room where the system is -... "   and you said that you will move/change home pretty soon.

I think that you have to wait till you live in your new home before asking for anything.

In ththese two treads you started put many people " to work " trying to help you but never disclosed rigth when you started the threads those two importaNTS PARAMETERS i POSTED HERE THAT AFFECTS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO IT ABOUT AND EACH ONE OF US ADVISES. PITY.

In the other side a show is exactly that a manufacturer/dealers show. Where we can see many system ranging from peanuts prices to over 500K audio systems but you can't really learn down there other that come back to your home with more questions than answers.
Other issue is that what you listen is in a show conditions where some rooms even with very good surrounded items are and sound awful and other roomssounds good. Perhaps the most important experience in a show is to meet other audiophiles and sometimes the designers of audio items and that's all.

R.
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