I guess it all depends on what you are listening to: a high power amp with low efficiency, multiple driver speakers will do a good job on wall-of-sound rock but be challenged on piano solo or string quartetts. Conversely even horns on SETs will not produce the sound pressure needed on the former. So basically you start with sound pressure vs.resolution. I‘ll be contentious in saying that the power amp defines the rest of the chain. I started with Accuphase pre and power and IMF transmission lines, moved to Chord amps and B&W 801s to move to Graaf otls and Duevel Omnis. from there I moved to a Wavac power amp and now have the Duevels for 20 years. Obviously the front ends have changed quite a bit as well, fundamentally though the changes were always derivative to the Amp and speaker combination.
Dream vs. Reality - What have you bought?
Just curious about how Audiogoner's have gotten to where you are. What systems have you heard that really seemed worth outrageous fortunes, vs. what did you end up with?
You wish you could buy ..... X but being more expensive than your home, you bought Y instead and feel you got close.
Is this you, or are you "I heard X and never heard better." type of listener?
Also, considering that some speaker systems are enormous, do you really think they'd work in the home you have?
You wish you could buy ..... X but being more expensive than your home, you bought Y instead and feel you got close.
Is this you, or are you "I heard X and never heard better." type of listener?
Also, considering that some speaker systems are enormous, do you really think they'd work in the home you have?