MRC2011 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I would like opinions from the forum concerning upgrading my equipment. Starting with high quality consumer grade equipment, and moving up to audiophile quality equipment, which would you upgrade first, speakers or amplification? In other words, on a temporary basis, which would you prefer, audiophile quality speakers with high quality consumer grade amplification? Or, high quality consumer grade speakers with audiophile quality amplification? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sootshe Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 You know what they say......."Garbage In - Garbage Out" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang guy Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Good question. If it were me, I would buy a pair of brand new Klipschorns right now. You can power them with a transistor radio. Later, I would shop for a nice amp like the McIntosh MC275. Keep in mind, KHorns need corners. There are also some room dimension caveats. The Palladium series are crazy expensive, and might be better than KHorns, but I have never heard that said here. Now if you want to go completely crazy, go sell your house and buy a pair of Focal Grand Utipias. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusaDude Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 What one person considers "Audiophile Quality Equipment/Speakers", may just be "High Quality Consumer Grade Equipment/Speakers" to someone else... and vice versa. Unless you already have something in mind (equipment and price wise) that you consider an upgrade, it's hard to offer suggestions. And something that you or someone else consider to be "audiophile quality" may not sound good to your ears, in your room, with your existing equipment. Personally I'd upgrade speakers first... find something that sounds better than what you currently have (within your price range), and add it to your system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 As a matter of principle, I prefer upgrades earlier in the chain. To my ears, it usually sounds better that way. In that theory, improvements earlier in the chain sound better through later pieces in the chain than vice versa. Better speakers will especially show up the grain and irritation in poor electronics, whereas better electronics are usually nicer, cleaner, and more alive-sounding over poorer speakers. But, if you really want K-horns, go ahead and get them, and then figure they'll sound better after you get better electronics. Of course, purchase opportunities and how much money is available when, often dictate what you buy when. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiet_Hollow Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 In other words, on a temporary basis, which would you prefer, audiophile quality speakers with high quality consumer grade amplification?... So long as you're in transition, (who isn't? []) you'll get a lot more mileage out of this route than the latter. Keep in mind "audiophile grade" is a very loose term and cost isn't the all-governing parameter for great sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 which would you upgrade first, speakers or amplification?The source of the lion's share of distortion is always in the speakers: using expensive electronics to drive small lower-quality (and lower price) speakers has never made sense to me.Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 The source of the lion's share of distortion is always in the speakers: using expensive electronics to drive small lower-quality (and lower price) speakers has never made sense to me..[Y] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I've always thought that a good system always starts with the the right speaker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tube fanatic Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 If your budget allows it, I'd upgrade the amp and speakers simultaneously. There is usually a very definite synergy at work in obtaining the best possible sound- all amps do not sound wonderful with all speakers, and vice versa. This is especially true with tube amps. It's worth saving up the necessary funds rather than trying to do it piecemeal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRC2011 Posted January 12, 2012 Author Share Posted January 12, 2012 Thanks for the replys. I think that I can conclude to keep the money in the bank for now. Based on the responses and my previous purchase activities, I need to wait until I can afford a complete overhaul. Although I must admit, if I find a deal I can't pass up, I may find myself back in a quagmire of balancing sound quality vs. affordability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tragusa3 Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I'd see no reason to wait if you can afford the speakers you're after. A speaker upgrade comes before electronic upgrade by a wide margin in my experience. Particularly with the high efficiency of the Klipsch family. Coming from your current mains, Khorns, LaScalas, RF7's would all make an incredibly improvement with your current electonics. Plus, you learn more by doing them separate. You live with it each way and then have an educated opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Richard Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 I would like opinions from the forum concerning upgrading my equipment. Starting with high quality consumer grade equipment, and moving up to audiophile quality equipment, which would you upgrade first, speakers or amplification? Neither. I would work on room acoustics and get that really right before I moved to high $$$ gear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 My upgrading procedure is simple---find what I want, send them the money and then hook it up. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sootshe Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 So Linn must have been barking up the wrong tree all those years ago when they revolutionized the hi-fi world with the Sondek? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris A Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 Hi John! I believe that the OP was asking about amplifiers vs. speakers. I'm not sure that we were thinking turntables during the discussion. In my instance, my reference is DVD-A, SACD or CD, with phono as a secondary preference for input device. Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 it's easy as long as you get the first step right: 1) remove wallet from pocket Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacksonbart Posted January 12, 2012 Share Posted January 12, 2012 buy some good music first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sootshe Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Hi John! I believe that the OP was asking about amplifiers vs. speakers. I'm not sure that we were thinking turntables during the discussion. In my instance, my reference is DVD-A, SACD or CD, with phono as a secondary preference for input device. Chris Yes, point taken, but the principle remains the same - "garbage in - garbage out". So the source remains the most important component & there on down the chain, until you get to the speakers.............................Your speakers can't reproduce a signal that doesn't get to them.................................my proviso is that I agree with Tom Mobley & be prepared to open your wallet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psg Posted January 13, 2012 Share Posted January 13, 2012 Hi John! I believe that the OP was asking about amplifiers vs. speakers. I'm not sure that we were thinking turntables during the discussion. In my instance, my reference is DVD-A, SACD or CD, with phono as a secondary preference for input device. Chris Yes, point taken, but the principle remains the same - "garbage in - garbage out". So the source remains the most important component & there on down the chain, until you get to the speakers.............................Your speakers can't reproduce a signal that doesn't get to them.................................my proviso is that I agree with Tom Mobley & be prepared to open your wallet! The point some have made is that an inexpensive CD player doesn't equate to garbage in. It's a lot easier to gets bits off a CD than to transduce that signal into air pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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