the big one: how do you choose speakers? By what features, data?

In the early ‘80s I found some 3 year old Klipschorns for $1,600 (pair).

A local audio shop owner (NOLA) recommended tubes and I got the lower end CJ amp/preamp combo that was fantastic to my ears.

the audio shop guy was invited to hear my setup and, on a whim, he brought along a pair of small Spendor speakers that he set on top of the K-horns.

Those little Spendors darn near replicated the sound of the K-horns, with slightly less bass, and I was stunned.

the point is, don’t be blinded by the speaker size.

(I kept the horns but never forgot that in-house demo)

My two cents is to figure out what type of speaker you are looking for first. Initially that is a question of floor standing vs bookshelf, ribbon, horn, planar, open baffle, box speaker etc. Then there are the different types of speaker voicings that are in some English or other foreign (to the US) countries that emphasize different things. 

Then research, research, research to find out the best in the categories you like, can you find those speakers to listen to?, price, performance, reliability etc. 

Obsess, obsess obsess over what you should do. Consider the price of the speaker and whether that would mean you have to invest in other things like stands, amplification, etc. What is the highest model you can afford and how long you can survive on macaroni and cheese before getting sick of it? Do the sellers allow for in home trials? 

Compulsively pull the trigger. Be happy for a year or so. Rinse and repeat.

@grislybutter

My order of preference in deciding on speakers is

1) Sound

2) Price

3) brand/company’s reputation

4) compatibility with existing amp, etc.?

I do not care about:

• sensitivity
• crossover frequency

I have equipment that can handle the last 2 with ease.

@dz13 you are very passionate, and I am too, I just need a little more research (which usually informs me how little I know and that I need to do moooore research)

@mrpostfire 

1) I thought - or I wish to think - the specs sheet helps figure out the sound. 

I know it's like reading a recipe and thinking "man this cake tastes exquisite!"

@grislybutter,

Thank you for the kind words!

Mike