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
of power, I would own such amps. But, I have personally not heard a high powered amp that I preferred over a good low-powered amp when driving efficient speakers
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I am aware low power, = the 845's, offer sme gorgeous mids/highs, ok in the bass. 
Thing is all my music is highly demanding complex full orchestra, = Debussy's La Mer.
I  have the hench the PP amps will deliver more **pizzah* Gutso, when crunch time comes.
Besides I have huge investment in the upgrades in the Defy = can't part with it.
So it will be Defy7 100 wopping watts paired with the Vox 97db. 
Certainly not a  match made in heaven, they;'ll just have to learn to get along.


I actually agree that speakers are the most important component in the playback chain.  Then you work your way back.  Next would be your amp then preamp then the source.  After that it would be the cables and interconnects.

orpheus10
8,611 posts
06-12-2021 6:40pm

It seems that some of the best speakers, according to "Stereophile" cost in the vicinity of 20K.

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Many of us old timers here read Stereophile with a  *grain of salt*, not saying all the product reviews are snakeoil, but surely read with extreme caution. 
I can imagine Stereophile pumping the idea *the more you spend on a speaker = the better it will sound*, Which obviously we all know now in 2021, its simple not true.
I am very surprised Stereophile has not awakened to the concept, higher sens = superior speaker. 
I am far advanced ahead of that *gang* pumping some agenda to get folks to spend money.

hubbman4 posts06-15-2021 9:51amAs someone who has been perpetually in the upgrade sickness.. I can tell you that no matter  how great your components are, it’s all for not if you have crap speakers!
the speakers deliver the truth! Therefore, the speakers are the key component, or the foundation for which all other components must pass through.

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Yep
And this is the reason you never see me over on the amp/preamp room, Amplification bores me, there is not much to talk about.
I can replace my Jadis Defy  with just about any tube KT88 power amps/intergrated and come out close to same results. 
In my opinion 
Power = power.
What I look for in amps, is quality of construction, that is No REpairs will ever be needed. Reputation is everything. In speakers , i made the new discovery that sensitivty is everything. 
We need to get back to basics. 
Not sure why Seas, Sacnspeak, SB Acoustics has not made the discovery of FR/High Sens as the superior speaker. 
Seas has  20 yo design called Exotic, its 20 yera old tech and  thus  wayyyy over priced vs the newer highs sens designs. 
If these 3  labs do not switch over  going all FR designs  all 3 will find themsleves bankrupt. 
Its just a matter of time.