[Carlman]

Hi Carlman,
What you say is true ....but ... until you have chosen your speakers, you do not know what sort of sensitivity/impedance they have and thus can't optimise your amp choice. ...

Good point... I went into my upgrade path head first... I bought the 100 because I had a big room and big speakers.  Now I have a very small room and small speakers... the 100 is overkill now.  I hope to hear the 55 one day.  

In any case, what I've learned is to consider room size to the equation of amp size...

-C

[stvnharr]

Well,
Nice to have someone actually agree with me for a change.   I'm chuffed!

Getting back to it.......
Read my testimonial on the website about my 55N twins and my BAT Vk-60.  Victor's amp was one of the most highly thought about amps in the audiophile world since it's introduction in 1995, and with good reason.  He founded a highly successful company on this one product.   The company has since expanded, but it wouldn't have happened without this amp.
Once I plugged in the 55N's, I was never even TEMPTED to give the VK-60 another listen.
Hugh's amp design is THAT good.

The amp-speaker discussion is endless.  The general rule is to find your speakers and then go for the amp.   HOWEVER, this is not a hard and fast rule by any means.   It's really more applicable for difficult load speakers, and/or single digit power amps.

When it comes to speakers, you gotta make your own.   The general price rules on speakers are 5 times cost of production for commercial speakers and 2 times for direct marketers.   Buying used can cut things a bit.
But in general, only the 10k+ speakers use premium drivers, and even then you often get midline drivers.
If you make your own, you can use premium drivers and get a total cost less than a budget speaker.

Speaker drivers are one thing in which cost actually does somewhat equal performance.  This is not quite like buying costly capacitors.   Caps are just a component in a circuit of components.   The speaker driver is what actually turns the electrical impulse into sound.
However, remember that the cost differential here is not that much.   Premium drivers top out around 150USD ea.   Midline drivers are about half.   Math can give the per pair difference.   But in the bigger overall picture, the cost difference is really very small.   The performance difference is far greater.
BTW, one of the most well regarded speaker drivers in diy circles is the SEAS W18E.   It's also my preferred driver, and I think it's near the apex of driver performance.   Though there are other very fine performing speaker drivers.   There is a bit of choice.

FOS, hope you are not overwhelmed by everyone's excellent advice!

[fos]

g'day everyone,

nah not overwhelmed but yes it does feel like a merry go round sometimes. into the hifi shop, test back out again, back in again etc. must admit i have only managed to spend $60 there on some speaker cable in 18months!!! they must be very patient!

i have noticed many diy speakers have have seen on the web have multiple drivers. and extend almost all the way to the ceiling in some cases....in contrast the aksonic has a single mid/bass driver. my question is what are the pros and cons to these 2 totally different arrangements   apart from the obvious physical presence.

the advise im reading reinforces my belief that my speakers just dont have the mid range to really hear the differences in the source. building the gk1 just postponed the speaker upgrade, funny i dont feel like im back to where i was 4 months ago...prior to gk1. it has made a HUGH difference. and now i must address the speaker issue. and now, that this must come before any power amp upgrade.

anyone have a set of aksonics i could come and listen to near canberra? i would like to get down and see hugh himself but its a bit far to go for a yarn.

[stvnharr]

Fos,
Yes there are few multiple driver speakers, commonly called arrays.  Rick Craig at Selah Audio does them very well.
Most diy speakers tend to be two ways, because of their relative ease in designing the filter network.   However, there is a certain amount of compromise in a two way in that it's hard to get much below mid bass with a driver that will go high enough to cross to a tweeter.
Have you looked at the Madisound discussion forum?   Lots of discussion and ideas there.
I've dealt with Rick Craig and Dave Ellis, both on audiocircle, and highly recommend both.
As you are in Australia, you more likely need to look there.   Hugh's speaker is certainly an option.
Also, things do somewhat come down to "the budget".  Also, are you able to build the cabinets?   Big savings if you can build them.
Have fun.