Amp more important than speakers?

I guess after all these years, and many systems and components later, I have a somewhat different philosophy from most of what is expressed here about what should "come first." If the goal is to buld a decent system, then that is exactly what should be the initial goal, i.e. a sensible and audibly pleasing balanced selection between source components, amplification and speakers. No matter how good or desireable the speakers, at the outset, if the source is found to be lacking, then no matter what amplification and cabling, the speakers will not provide all the musical resolution and depth they are capable of. Conversely, a great source and amplifier feeding mediocre speakers are also unlikely to provide the complete potential of the system. This is why it should be all about the SYSTEM (as I have harped more than once on this forum over the years). It's about the system and it's about component balance. So, yes, it could be speakers first, like, throw $15K into Vandersteen 5A (latest version) speakers (and please, don't say these aren't decent speakers) and then feed them a cheap CD player and big box, inexpensive HT receiver with the goal of sometime upgrading the upstream components. While there may be initial happniness, there will eventually be disatisfaction along the way and the owner may end up blaming the speakers (hey, be nice!). A better balance would be to select 2C Sigs or 3As and use the remaining money for an equivalent quality CD player and amp that could also function for the time when funds for the 5A upgrade are available, and the upstream components will be satisfactory until such time as upstream components can also be upgraded. In the end, it should be about balance, not what comes first. Upgrading is a necessarily (possible fun) evil of this pasttime, hobby, passion, endeavour, addiction, life altering force...

Who's on First?

When I sold gear years ago in a well known at the time higher end audio chain, and it was still common to sell complete systems in one shot for the customer's budget we were all taught to help the customer find the right speakers first, then the amp, then the rest.

In the beginning, I too had a speaker fixation. I was most attracted to a speaker with a bright orange 12 inch woofer; it had "big bad bass". Every weekend, me and a friend would visit stores and listen to the speakers.I remember, "I got some new speakers, come over and check em out". After I arrived, "Dig that bass"! Everything in the house was vibrating like a mini earthquake. "We were cookin"!

When I got into the high-end, I discovered there was a world of music on the LP's I owned that I had never heard. "What's a 3 dimensional sound stage"? That's something that can not exist without the right pre and amp. When you get this, you also get the subtle musical nuances that go with it.

Although I haven't changed speakers in ages, the sound in my room has gone through revolutionary changes. My speakers are described on a thread I began titled, "Trade off, SS VS Tube Magic", dated 08-18-10. On the post dated 08-20-10, you will find an explicit description of my custom speakers. This might give you ideas on upgrading your present speakers by simply replacing the capacitors in the crossover. The amps I'm using at present are Primaluna 6 monoblocks. The tubes are Tung-sol EL34 power tubes, NOS RCA 12AU7 Cleartop and 12AX7 Shuguang small tubes. These tubes make a gigantic difference as opposed to the tubes that came with the unit.

This new amp and tubes have given me a sound stage like I have never heard before, or should I say "Never seen before". There are invisible performers on a stage that spreads completely across the room. The Stage is 7 feet behind the speakers, which appear to be useless pieces of furniture. The performers take their positions and the sound consistently emanates from those positions.

The original premise of this thread was not whether to buy the speakers or amp first, or last; it was based on placing the emphasis on the amp and the front end, as opposed to the speakers in regard to financial resources. I concur 100% with this philosophy. Those with unlimited resources could design a room and then purchase components to fit, while the rest of us have to make numerous compromises.

Definitely a good idea to avoid underpowered amps, but even that is determined by the speakers.

I think if more people used amps powerful enough to bring out the best with the speakers they have, they would get off the speaker merry go round faster.

But again this is just another example of the importance of having a good match. It doesn't make the amp more important than the speaker.