Speakers The single most critical component


I know we've been over this Q hundreds of X's over the past 20 years here on audion, You can find dozen of topics dealing with this Q <which is the ,,,,most important component...>>
well time for yet 1 more topic dealing with this,, perhaps unanswered, un-resolved issue.
I'm bringing up the old hachet due to my recent experience acutally hearinga FR in my system. 
Let me tell you, there is not even 1 traditional/conventioanl/xover design <The Boxed Type>> in the world that could convince me  , there is something that will beat out FR (caveat, FR requires  some sort of high sens =sensitivity, tweeter)  in  the Boxy world of speakers.
That is to say, FR + Compression Horn is the future of 21st Century high fidelity. 
One lab has already brought us these ~~~SHF~~~ aka SuperHighFidelity  single drivers. 
The code word here is ~~SHF~~~ which can not never be employed when describing xover/trad/conventioanl style  aka The Box designs. db level under 91 are _<<IN-EFFICIENT>> , = dysfunctional, out dated, old school , = Dinasaurs. 
For amps, I only consider tube amps (PP and SET) as ~~SHF~~~ I can not include ss amps in this topic. 
IMHO all well made tube amps sound very close,
 a  kt88 in brand X will sound  close to brand Y. 
So amplification takes a  distant 2nd place in critical component.  No need to break the bank buying amp A vs  a  lower priced kt88 amp B
CD players, nearly all  tube DAC's , tube cdp-ers sound  close. No need to braek the bank over X vs Y.
My Jadis DAC is  only miniscule gain over the Shanling,
 the Shanling
only a  miniscule gain over the Cayin CD17. 
Now as for  best source  , phonograph is the ideal playback medium vs cds. 
I have some LP's now , but my main collection are classical cds, most not on LP version. Cables , I did note some gains employing silver/copper wiring throughout my entire system including inside the Defy.
Tweak worthy.
New Mundorf caps in all componets, tweak worthy. 
Yet the main central component remaisn the speakers.
Here is where  the entire audio resolution either rises to Nirvana or falls to <<distortion/muddy waters,/pollution/anti-fidelity  voicing  issues.
Your system's fidelity is ultimately dependent on what speaker  you have chosen to employ.
Forget all you've learned over the years, 
The new mantra is <,The speaker is key component>
All else is just extra tweaks/nuances. 
To sum up, a  ~~SHF~~ driver will match even the top of line Wilson weighing in at hundreds of lbs priced $$$$$$$ overa single FR driver. 
FR beats out any/all xover box design speakers. Mostly due to that key specification ~~db level~~~ which is everything in speaker design and thus in resolution/fidelity. 

mozartfan
It is easy to understand that any relatively good piece of gear can be replaced by any other relatively better piece of gear, be it a dac or amplifier or speakers...

And this replacement is called an upgrade...

It is easy to understand that if any piece of gear can be replaced by any other, psychoacoustic law, vibrations/resonance controls, noise floor control, are not piece of gear waiting for improvement but question that must be adressed...

Then the most important for most of us is not the source or the speakers urge to upgrade, it is the psychoacoutical necessary  control of the room, of the electrical grid of the house and of the  vibrations plaguing speakers...

There is NO miraculous component.... Only relatively better one for most of us.... But the general rule in my experience  is that any upgrade is lesser increase in S.Q. than controls of the room most of the times if not always...

The only exception perhaps is to change 500 bucks speakers for example to a 15,000 bucks pair.... And even this is not always true....

My 50 vintage bucks speakers sound like SOME not so good 15,000 bucks one thanks to my room control....

I dont need any upgrade why?

Am i deaf?

No...

I studied elementary acoustic....

Try it....


Then perpetual arguing about branded name gear is deceptive and never adress the essential....

Embeddings controls, especially acoustic....


pesky_wabbit330 posts04-27-2021 3:33pm@dtetch2 Can you please repeat that in English.


You and others are presenting critical information, but it is falling on deaf ears. There is no acknowledgement of it let along a rebuttal.


To that end, there is information being presented, but no communication is occurring. Communication requires two active participants.
You and others are presenting critical information, but it is falling on deaf ears. There is no acknowledgement of it let along a rebuttal.


To that end, there is information being presented, but no communication is occurring. Communication requires two active participants.

Thank you. I appreciate your elucidation.
@dletch2 --

You and others are presenting critical information, but it is falling on deaf ears. There is no acknowledgement of it let along a rebuttal.


To that end, there is information being presented, but no communication is occurring. Communication requires two active participants.

I'd even go a bit further with that statement: audiophilia in general is in love with its own narrative, and not at all inviting of "other voices." Backlash is one thing, muteness quite another..