Speakers The single most critical component


I know we've been over this Q hundreds of X's over the past 20 years here on audion, You can find dozen of topics dealing with this Q <which is the ,,,,most important component...>>
well time for yet 1 more topic dealing with this,, perhaps unanswered, un-resolved issue.
I'm bringing up the old hachet due to my recent experience acutally hearinga FR in my system. 
Let me tell you, there is not even 1 traditional/conventioanl/xover design <The Boxed Type>> in the world that could convince me  , there is something that will beat out FR (caveat, FR requires  some sort of high sens =sensitivity, tweeter)  in  the Boxy world of speakers.
That is to say, FR + Compression Horn is the future of 21st Century high fidelity. 
One lab has already brought us these ~~~SHF~~~ aka SuperHighFidelity  single drivers. 
The code word here is ~~SHF~~~ which can not never be employed when describing xover/trad/conventioanl style  aka The Box designs. db level under 91 are _<<IN-EFFICIENT>> , = dysfunctional, out dated, old school , = Dinasaurs. 
For amps, I only consider tube amps (PP and SET) as ~~SHF~~~ I can not include ss amps in this topic. 
IMHO all well made tube amps sound very close,
 a  kt88 in brand X will sound  close to brand Y. 
So amplification takes a  distant 2nd place in critical component.  No need to break the bank buying amp A vs  a  lower priced kt88 amp B
CD players, nearly all  tube DAC's , tube cdp-ers sound  close. No need to braek the bank over X vs Y.
My Jadis DAC is  only miniscule gain over the Shanling,
 the Shanling
only a  miniscule gain over the Cayin CD17. 
Now as for  best source  , phonograph is the ideal playback medium vs cds. 
I have some LP's now , but my main collection are classical cds, most not on LP version. Cables , I did note some gains employing silver/copper wiring throughout my entire system including inside the Defy.
Tweak worthy.
New Mundorf caps in all componets, tweak worthy. 
Yet the main central component remaisn the speakers.
Here is where  the entire audio resolution either rises to Nirvana or falls to <<distortion/muddy waters,/pollution/anti-fidelity  voicing  issues.
Your system's fidelity is ultimately dependent on what speaker  you have chosen to employ.
Forget all you've learned over the years, 
The new mantra is <,The speaker is key component>
All else is just extra tweaks/nuances. 
To sum up, a  ~~SHF~~ driver will match even the top of line Wilson weighing in at hundreds of lbs priced $$$$$$$ overa single FR driver. 
FR beats out any/all xover box design speakers. Mostly due to that key specification ~~db level~~~ which is everything in speaker design and thus in resolution/fidelity. 

mozartfan
@berner99  

Agree that the speakers have the biggest effect on the signature of the sound - ESL's, horns, Full Rangers, Omnis, open baffle etc. I just feel like the signature is a taste and preference thing. Once someone settles on a style of speaker, there are ranges of quality within that style. And then matching gear is needed in order to get the synergy right and get the most out of the speakers.

Splitting hairs I guess, but when a direction has been established, then all equipment is of equal importance. If I want to change up the sound, the source remains the same, but amplification changes with the choice of speakers I'm listening to.
If I want to change up the sound, the source remains the same, but amplification changes with the choice of speakers I’m listening to.
Same thing than for amplifier and speakers ,it is very easy to buy a "relatively good source" nowadays...

Creating passive material treatment for a room and especially active mechanical controls to complement and enhance it is way more difficult...

People are hypnotized by pricing gear product, less so by acoustic and psychoacoustic fact....

Under 20 feet room space only acoustic matter to reach heaven with almost any " relatively good for basic gear "...

Why 20 feet?

Because it is easy to control TIMING under some acoustic treshold and use it for your benefit...

A very big room is more costly to control....

My room control 13 feet square cost me nothing to be controlled...
Decent speakers can be found at a very modest price. What you put into a system can never be regained.
Decent speakers can be found at a very modest price. What you put into a system can never be regained.
You are right for sure but nowadays it is perhaps not so easy to buy a good dac like buying a good speaker but anyway it is relatively easy too...

The technology is coming to maturity...

What is difficult, underestimated, and most of the times simply not known is the transforming power of psychoacoustic and acoustc basic facts....

In a small room with a limited amount of money nothing can replace the S.Q, improvement linked to acoustic controls....It is my experience and experiments...

my best to you....
@mahghiter you are an intelligent and articulate individual. However my ATC SCM11‘s sound absolutely wonderful in. my bedroom system without any room treatments.