Good speakers matter, perhaps more than any part of the reproduction chain (excluding, of course, the recording). It is generally true that well designed and manufactured drivers are expensive. I'm sure that each of us has come upon inexpensive speakers that sound quite good. The problem that I have found is that many of the speakers that are reputed (by the slicks) to sound like good speakers, do, in fact, sound like good speakers. These can be identified when reading the slicks by looking for the following characteristics "brought tears to my eyes" or "my jaw dropped to the floor". Any time that you see this audio pornography you can be pretty sure that you have an overpriced, overhyped, audio snob appeal, reproducer that sounds like a speaker. You can usually easily infer that this particular speaker has a very good chance of being obsoleted by another jaw dropper within a year or at most two years. I found that I could have something that sounded like real music by considering used components and a little imagination. The Altec split 210 cabinet and high quality drivers that I wrote about in Sound Practices #15 is not going to be for everyone - you need an adequately sized listening room and an understanding spouse. After 30 years of spending too much money and being generally so disappointed that I had to hear the newest, latest and greatest, I found that I need no longer look to make significant further changes in speakers. Further, any small tube amplifier costing way less than the speakers will provide you with compelling music. Check out my idea of an outstanding speaker system in Sound Practices or you can e-mail me with questions. Total cost was less than $3,000 and would be able to be sold for at least that amount if circumstances ever change. These include going deaf, dying, moving to an apartment or insane asylum. Classic designs by the people who defined the art and the science have an aesthetic and the enduring appeal of bach, Mozart, Miles, or the Beatles. Check it out.
