Amp first approach to build a system. Anyone did it ?

I could easily see being in that position.

I have been upgrading my systems for fifty years.

After a few years in, I had taken out my very first bank loan for $5,000 ($19K in todays dollars) to buy a Threshold s500 amp. One of my next purchases would have been speakers… and I am sure there was no way I was thinking about swapping the amp.

I have also given up on solid state amps. So if I upgrade again I would be keeping my ARC Reference 160… or maybe upgrading to an ARC Reference 320… but that really isn’t a change.

Having been an audio dealer ,and includes all system synergies given to the 

$$ budget . You first have to decide what is your max budget 

from my vast experiences the front end dac or turntable and quality of Everything 

especially cables, power cords Linear power supplies all effect the end result 

being the most important since music Starts there ,once the signal compromised,

it cannot be made up down stream, the Loudspeaker  too is on par for most important , that being said ifyou are starting with your existing Amplifier

what is yourTotal budget, and what power amplifier are you going to use ?

Speakers first. Why? Because the room is the thing you have the least control over so gotta get the speakers and their setup right.

From there, choose an amp capable of driving the speakers to their max, add a good quality source, and voila!

Is there a rational argument for amp first? I suppose if one has a strong preference for a specific amp. A SET comes to mind. If that is your thing then perhaps nothing else will do. Your speaker choices might be more limited but the right ones are still probably out there somewhere. To each their own.

@inna 

I think that you meant "Has anyone done it?"

I’ve always considered the source and speakers first and move on from there.