Great discussion with some really nice points made.
What I've found is, rather than anchor on a specific amp or speaker per se...for me it's turned into a particular sound-style and experience that I've "anchored" on. Seems like others above are suggesting the same experience for them.
Of course this is a total personal preference thing....but I personally have found to be drawn to the high-efficiency, low-wattage tube amp combo. On a relative basis, that style of combo seems to draw me emotionally into the music more (in top cases WAY more) than what I consider the even more ballsy (not necessarily more dynamic), close-to-ruler-flat-curve, multi-driver, multi-way crossed-over, 93 db and down speakers driven by ultra dead quiet, big wattage, total-control-of-the-situation amps (both SS and tubed). Both styles can sound phenomenal, and often the latter systems are equally or more expensive than the former, so I think I'm fairly comparing like-quality and like-costing systems as I've drawn my own personal conclusions for what I'm craving and prefer. And to be very clear, I've heard a number of super expensive high-efficiency/low-power amp combos that do NOT produce the emotional sound I crave, so there is absolutely still a "search" needed to determine what moves one the most, even within a particular design approach. And this may be controversial, but I will say cost does play in here--in some cases a lot. That's not to say that there are not some lower-cost sleepers (I own a few), but my most expensive stuff almost linearly produces more emotional sound than the more moderately (yet still costly) gear, when I truly want to sit inside rarified air.
I have been moved deeply by systems that involved Classic Audio Reproductions, Zu, Altec classic horns, and Auditorium 23 speakers, combined with Atma-Sphere OTL, Thoress 845 SET monos, Audion 300B Golden Dreams, and Melody 845 integrateds. I have bought and kept many of these combos, and in a few cases they are on a short list for future purchase. Will I keep it all? I don't know, but for me I'm nearing points of emotional well-being in audio that I don't think I'd reached in previous years/previous systems. I will be shocked if I'm tempted away from top-end SET, PSET, and OTL amps driving very high-efficiency speakers, although the combos and brands may continue evolve.
In summary, I think I've anchored on the "sound" I want to try to achieve, more so than a particular piece of gear or two, for what that's worth to the discussion.
What I've found is, rather than anchor on a specific amp or speaker per se...for me it's turned into a particular sound-style and experience that I've "anchored" on. Seems like others above are suggesting the same experience for them.
Of course this is a total personal preference thing....but I personally have found to be drawn to the high-efficiency, low-wattage tube amp combo. On a relative basis, that style of combo seems to draw me emotionally into the music more (in top cases WAY more) than what I consider the even more ballsy (not necessarily more dynamic), close-to-ruler-flat-curve, multi-driver, multi-way crossed-over, 93 db and down speakers driven by ultra dead quiet, big wattage, total-control-of-the-situation amps (both SS and tubed). Both styles can sound phenomenal, and often the latter systems are equally or more expensive than the former, so I think I'm fairly comparing like-quality and like-costing systems as I've drawn my own personal conclusions for what I'm craving and prefer. And to be very clear, I've heard a number of super expensive high-efficiency/low-power amp combos that do NOT produce the emotional sound I crave, so there is absolutely still a "search" needed to determine what moves one the most, even within a particular design approach. And this may be controversial, but I will say cost does play in here--in some cases a lot. That's not to say that there are not some lower-cost sleepers (I own a few), but my most expensive stuff almost linearly produces more emotional sound than the more moderately (yet still costly) gear, when I truly want to sit inside rarified air.
I have been moved deeply by systems that involved Classic Audio Reproductions, Zu, Altec classic horns, and Auditorium 23 speakers, combined with Atma-Sphere OTL, Thoress 845 SET monos, Audion 300B Golden Dreams, and Melody 845 integrateds. I have bought and kept many of these combos, and in a few cases they are on a short list for future purchase. Will I keep it all? I don't know, but for me I'm nearing points of emotional well-being in audio that I don't think I'd reached in previous years/previous systems. I will be shocked if I'm tempted away from top-end SET, PSET, and OTL amps driving very high-efficiency speakers, although the combos and brands may continue evolve.
In summary, I think I've anchored on the "sound" I want to try to achieve, more so than a particular piece of gear or two, for what that's worth to the discussion.