Do you belong more to souce first or to speakers first school of thought ?

I prefer to advise edges first (speakers and source). But if I had to pick just one it would be speakers first - the last transducer actually creates the sound. Source is important, but if you can't reproduce what the source can provide then what's the point?

The true source has always been the recording, not necessarily what it's being played on, even though that does matter but is secondary to the recording itself.

My 60 years experience dictates recording and speakers. Getting the room/speaker interface right will yield the best sound with the smallest investment.

GIGO

@tweak1 true! But…the speakers and the amp are the biggest contributors to the final presentation (let’s assume room acoustics are decent here) and you will never know what your speakers are capable of without the best possible amplifier driving them.

I’ve been listening to CDs played on a 15 year old $49 DVD player while waiting for a dac to arrive, and if it wasn’t for my amp and speakers it wouldn’t sound as good as it does!

@br3098 +1

Yes, speakers matter the most!