I dont agree that poor room/speaker synergy is beyond improvement from a better or different amplifier in all cases. The classic example that comes to mind is a booming sound from larger speakers in a small room. It surprises people that a more powerful amp with better bass control can often completely eliminate this problem.
Amp more important than speakers?
The common wisdom seems to be the opposite (at least from speaker makers), but I have tried the many speakers that have come thru my house on lesser amps or my midfi A/V receiver and something was always very wrong, and things often sounded worse than cheap speakers.
On the other hand, I have tried many humble speakers on my my really good amps (& source) and heard really fine results.
Recently I tried my Harbeth SHL5s (& previously my Aerial 10Ts, Piega P10s, and others) on the receiver or even my Onkyo A9555 (which is nice with my 1985 Ohm Walsh 4s, which I consider mid-fi), and the 3 high end speakers sounded boomy, bland, opaque.
But when I tried even really cheap speakers on my main setup (Edge NL12.1 w/tube preamp) I got very nice results
(old Celestion SL6s, little Jensen midfi speakers).
So I don't think it's a waste of resources to get great amplification and sources even for more humble speakers.
My Harbeth SHL5s *really* benefit from amps & sources that are far more expensive than the Harbeths.
Once I had Aerial 10Ts that sounded like new speakers with vocals to die for when I drove them with a Pass X350 to replace an Aragon 8008.
Oh well, thanks for reading my rambling thoughts here...
So I think I would avoid pairing good speakers with lesser amps,
On the other hand, I have tried many humble speakers on my my really good amps (& source) and heard really fine results.
Recently I tried my Harbeth SHL5s (& previously my Aerial 10Ts, Piega P10s, and others) on the receiver or even my Onkyo A9555 (which is nice with my 1985 Ohm Walsh 4s, which I consider mid-fi), and the 3 high end speakers sounded boomy, bland, opaque.
But when I tried even really cheap speakers on my main setup (Edge NL12.1 w/tube preamp) I got very nice results
(old Celestion SL6s, little Jensen midfi speakers).
So I don't think it's a waste of resources to get great amplification and sources even for more humble speakers.
My Harbeth SHL5s *really* benefit from amps & sources that are far more expensive than the Harbeths.
Once I had Aerial 10Ts that sounded like new speakers with vocals to die for when I drove them with a Pass X350 to replace an Aragon 8008.
Oh well, thanks for reading my rambling thoughts here...
So I think I would avoid pairing good speakers with lesser amps,
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- 114 posts total
mofimadness4,690 posts06-25-2011 2:35pmI'm from the speaker first camp. Find what you really like the sound of and build up from there, around the speaker. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With the new addition of a 4 inch wide band paired witha 8 inch wide band, has caused me to RE-Calculate my system component equation. Amplification 10% source 8% Wires/cables 2% Thats leaves the rest of the equation to The speakers at a wopping 80% Yep you read correctly, 80%,,might as well join my mantra **speakers are everything. And I'm being generous with 10% amp 8% source. Speakers are The Critical Component. In my experience a tube amp = a tube amp SETs and PP are near equal(minus the 300 B tube which are meant for Tele industry) Source = source(Phono has a slight advantage) Speaker = speaker,,...each is completely different from the next. All xover types are near equal = yes true All stats/panels near equal = agree All horns similiar = agree All wide bands near equal = false. |
- 114 posts total