This thread made the statement that the amp was more important in regard to financial resources, or quality as in Class A, B, or C; although it was not stated in that precise manner. Nowhere is the sequence of purchase mentioned. "You talking about a trolley jumping the tracks", this is the best example yet. Why didn't youse guys start a thread titled "Buy speakers first"?
Amp more important than speakers?
The common wisdom seems to be the opposite (at least from speaker makers), but I have tried the many speakers that have come thru my house on lesser amps or my midfi A/V receiver and something was always very wrong, and things often sounded worse than cheap speakers.
On the other hand, I have tried many humble speakers on my my really good amps (& source) and heard really fine results.
Recently I tried my Harbeth SHL5s (& previously my Aerial 10Ts, Piega P10s, and others) on the receiver or even my Onkyo A9555 (which is nice with my 1985 Ohm Walsh 4s, which I consider mid-fi), and the 3 high end speakers sounded boomy, bland, opaque.
But when I tried even really cheap speakers on my main setup (Edge NL12.1 w/tube preamp) I got very nice results
(old Celestion SL6s, little Jensen midfi speakers).
So I don't think it's a waste of resources to get great amplification and sources even for more humble speakers.
My Harbeth SHL5s *really* benefit from amps & sources that are far more expensive than the Harbeths.
Once I had Aerial 10Ts that sounded like new speakers with vocals to die for when I drove them with a Pass X350 to replace an Aragon 8008.
Oh well, thanks for reading my rambling thoughts here...
So I think I would avoid pairing good speakers with lesser amps,
On the other hand, I have tried many humble speakers on my my really good amps (& source) and heard really fine results.
Recently I tried my Harbeth SHL5s (& previously my Aerial 10Ts, Piega P10s, and others) on the receiver or even my Onkyo A9555 (which is nice with my 1985 Ohm Walsh 4s, which I consider mid-fi), and the 3 high end speakers sounded boomy, bland, opaque.
But when I tried even really cheap speakers on my main setup (Edge NL12.1 w/tube preamp) I got very nice results
(old Celestion SL6s, little Jensen midfi speakers).
So I don't think it's a waste of resources to get great amplification and sources even for more humble speakers.
My Harbeth SHL5s *really* benefit from amps & sources that are far more expensive than the Harbeths.
Once I had Aerial 10Ts that sounded like new speakers with vocals to die for when I drove them with a Pass X350 to replace an Aragon 8008.
Oh well, thanks for reading my rambling thoughts here...
So I think I would avoid pairing good speakers with lesser amps,
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- 114 posts total
I dont agree that poor room/speaker synergy is beyond improvement from a better or different amplifier in all cases. The classic example that comes to mind is a booming sound from larger speakers in a small room. It surprises people that a more powerful amp with better bass control can often completely eliminate this problem. |
mofimadness4,690 posts06-25-2011 2:35pmI'm from the speaker first camp. Find what you really like the sound of and build up from there, around the speaker. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ With the new addition of a 4 inch wide band paired witha 8 inch wide band, has caused me to RE-Calculate my system component equation. Amplification 10% source 8% Wires/cables 2% Thats leaves the rest of the equation to The speakers at a wopping 80% Yep you read correctly, 80%,,might as well join my mantra **speakers are everything. And I'm being generous with 10% amp 8% source. Speakers are The Critical Component. In my experience a tube amp = a tube amp SETs and PP are near equal(minus the 300 B tube which are meant for Tele industry) Source = source(Phono has a slight advantage) Speaker = speaker,,...each is completely different from the next. All xover types are near equal = yes true All stats/panels near equal = agree All horns similiar = agree All wide bands near equal = false. |
- 114 posts total