[Niteshade]

Basics for choosing new equipment:

Before spending thousands on a complete system, consider ALL your options and do not, under any circumstances go past ones that are unfamiliar to you. I see too many people skip over new products and companies simply because they are new. Making assumptions is a good way to pass up on good equipment.

Getting back on the topic:

Here are some things I have learned:

1. Start with the speakers.
The speakers are more important than anything else in the system. I can't stress that enough. There are too many variables to cover now, so here are four big ones:
A. Select the widest frequency response
B. Get speakers big enough for your room. Small speakers in a big room isn't good.
C. Frequency response isn't everything. Quality of delivery is just as important or more so.
D. Do not get low efficiency speakers initially. Get something around 1w=90db or better.

"D" Up above is a big one because your amplifier's performance hinges on it. Low power amplifiers do not drive low efficiency speakers well at all. Keeping the efficiency rating high ensures superior amplifier compatibility.

How a speaker delivers is very important. I've seen speakers profess a 20-20k response and sound lousy! Be careful about the speaker technology you choose. For example, ribbon tweeters sound different than soft dome, which sound different than compression horns and so on. They all have a different slant on the speaker's tonality. I'm not a speaker builder- so check with those who are and remember: Google is your best asset.

2. The Amplifier

There are as many amplifiers as there are speakers! Now more than ever, delivery is of paramount importance and not the frequency response. Most amps have a 20-20k frequency response BUT not a single model will portray that response in the same light!

Different kinds of amplifiers:
A. Solid State: Uses transistors throughout its construction
B. Hybrid: A marriage of tube and transistor technology. Typically either tubes or transistors are dominant in these designs.
C. Tube: Tubes use used throughout. They may have a solid state power supply, but the signal path will consist of 100% tubes.

Use Google to search the various tube vs transistor blogs, writeups and threads. Naturally, look in Audiocircle too. Each technology has their strengths and weaknesses, depending on what you expect from your new system. A note: The more expensive you go, the closer these technologies will sound alike. Manufacturers seem to reach a consensus of what sounds 'perfect' as price increases and better performance is expected as a result.

[JimJ]

"D" Up above is a big one because your amplifier's performance hinges on it. Low power amplifiers do not drive low efficiency speakers well at all. Keeping the efficiency rating high ensures superior amplifier compatibility.

How a speaker delivers is very important. I've seen speakers profess a 20-20k response and sound lousy! Be careful about the speaker technology you choose. For example, ribbon tweeters sound different than soft dome, which sound different than compression horns and so on. They all have a different slant on the speaker's tonality. I'm not a speaker builder- so check with those who are and remember: Google is your best asset.

In addition to efficiency, a speaker's impedance plot can reveal a lot of how it may do with a certain amplifier

The best thing I could think of for a newbie to do is get out there and hear things. Visit locals on these forums if they can, go to high-end stores if they're around, try to hear as many varied things as possible. Find out what they like or don't like. It's a lot easier to make recommendations that way

[Mister Pig]

Basics for choosing new equipment:

Before spending thousands on a complete system, consider ALL your options and do not, under any circumstances go past ones that are unfamiliar to you. I see too many people skip over new products and companies simply because they are new. Making assumptions is a good way to pass up on good equipment.

Getting back on the topic:

Here are some things I have learned:

1. Start with the speakers.
The speakers are more important than anything else in the system. I can't stress that enough. There are too many variables to cover now, so here are four big ones:
A. Select the widest frequency response
B. Get speakers big enough for your room. Small speakers in a big room isn't good.
C. Frequency response isn't everything. Quality of delivery is just as important or more so.
D. Do not get low efficiency speakers initially. Get something around 1w=90db or better.

"D" Up above is a big one because your amplifier's performance hinges on it. Low power amplifiers do not drive low efficiency speakers well at all. Keeping the efficiency rating high ensures superior amplifier compatibility.

How a speaker delivers is very important. I've seen speakers profess a 20-20k response and sound lousy! Be careful about the speaker technology you choose. For example, ribbon tweeters sound different than soft dome, which sound different than compression horns and so on. They all have a different slant on the speaker's tonality. I'm not a speaker builder- so check with those who are and remember: Google is your best asset.

2. The Amplifier

There are as many amplifiers as there are speakers! Now more than ever, delivery is of paramount importance and not the frequency response. Most amps have a 20-20k frequency response BUT not a single model will portray that response in the same light!

Different kinds of amplifiers:
A. Solid State: Uses transistors throughout its construction
B. Hybrid: A marriage of tube and transistor technology. Typically either tubes or transistors are dominant in these designs.
C. Tube: Tubes use used throughout. They may have a solid state power supply, but the signal path will consist of 100% tubes.

Use Google to search the various tube vs transistor blogs, writeups and threads. Naturally, look in Audiocircle too. Each technology has their strengths and weaknesses, depending on what you expect from your new system. A note: The more expensive you go, the closer these technologies will sound alike. Manufacturers seem to reach a consensus of what sounds 'perfect' as price increases and better performance is expected as a result.

There seems to be some discrepancy between points A and C regarding speakers. "Choose the widest frequency response", yet "frequency response isn't everything."

I agree speakers can be difficult to pick out. But there are a few other things to consider. The room and placement options that are available to the listener. How close wall boundaries may have to be, which can limit the stable of speakers to be considered. Aesthetic concerns, maybe they won't want a pair of planers or large floor standers. The size of the audio kitty. A smaller kitty is going to make the buyer make practical trade offs. How much performance can they afford?

Just a few thoughts from a barnyard animal. If you want a different opinion I suggest you check with the ducks or the chickens.

Regards
Mister Pig

[DTB300]

"D" Up above is a big one because your amplifier's performance hinges on it. Low power amplifiers do not drive low efficiency speakers well at all. Keeping the efficiency rating high ensures superior amplifier compatibility.

I think it would be better if you define low efficiency and low power correlation you are trying to convey here.

Would someone want to drive an 85dB sensitivity speaker with a 125w amp?

Some think 90 is low, some think 85 is low for efficiency.  For power some think 300w is low, etc. etc.

Also, power ratings will not define the ability of an amp to drive a particular speaker.

[groovybassist]

There's a lot of folks out there, many well regarded designers and manufacturers, that espouse 'speakers first' and the belief that speakers are the most important part of the audio chain.  I agree they have the most overall impact on the sound of your system, but I don't necessarily think they're most important.  For many years I thought this way, but I've slowly come around to the notion of 'source first' and the benefits this approach has to a system.  

If you spend a majority of your budget on speakers and sacrifice on the source, the speakers may be capable of highlighting warts in your upstream components.  if you invest in source first, you'll at least have the benefit of providing the highest quality signal to each part of the chain downstream.  Source first tends (IMO) to allow downstream components to perform at their best.  These are not hard and fast rules, just my thoughts.  There are components and speakers at both ends of the cost spectrum that perform great and perform terribly.  My musical satisfaction with my system has improved as I've migrated from 'speaker first' to 'source first'.

Trust your ears is probably the best advice of all!  Enjoy.

-Mike

[miklorsmith]

I believe the speaker/room interface is number one.  The size of the room, necessary/allowable placement, seating position, "goals" such as even dispersion in a room or specific to "a spot", listener preferences (multi-ways, OBs, line arrays, hi-eff, single drivers), reverberant characteristics/whether treatments are an option, and other factors dictate what speakers have a better chance of working in a room.  Screw this one up and nothing upstream will fix it.  As always it's best to try before you buy in your room but that's tough to do these days.  Having an escape plan is always smart if things don't go as hoped.

Then, an amp to properly drive that speaker in that room becomes paramount.  Certain amps like certain speakers and vice versa.  Also listener preferences play an important role.

The preamp/source one is a little tougher.  I'm more apt to play with voicing in a preamp but sources vary a lot in presentation as well.  Non-oversampling vs. oversampling/upsampling digital sound a lot different to my ears.  Once you have a speaker/amp setup that serves the ears and room well, differences in preamps, sources, and wires become much more apparent and unfortunately important.

All usual disclaimers apply.     A knowledgeable and occasional contributor to these pages advocates "preamp first" as it's the only part that truly can be evaluated for transparency and neutrality.

[woodsyi]

Face plates.  Face plates have to match.

If I have to do it all over again, I wouldn't get any gear that did not match my Noir theme.  The sound really suffers when you have to stare at silver plates.   

[JerryM]

Basics for choosing new equipment:

An ironclad, no-questions-asked, 30 money back satisfaction guarantee should be confirmed before any purchase. This applies to amplification, source, IC's, etc. If buying pre-owned gear, this is not practicable in most instances. It should certainly be weighed in the decision making process, though.

JMHO,
Jerry

[lonewolfny42]

Face plates.  Face plates have to match.

If I have to do it all over again, I wouldn't get any gear that did not match my Noir theme.  The sound really suffers when you have to stare at silver plates.   

Rim....the solution....turn the lights out when listening... ( )

[jules]

I agree with groovyb on this one.

It's hard to evaluate any speakers if the message is inaccurate and it's also surprising how well an "ordinary" speaker can perform with a good chain powering it.

jules

ps ... it's also very helpful if the buyer takes on the possibilities of doing their own mods. This way, it makes it more possible to correct mis-matches in a system. Some very simple mods can go a long way in this respect.

[jimdgoulding]

Basics for choosing new equipment:

An ironclad, no-questions-asked, 30 money back satisfaction guarantee should be confirmed before any purchase. This applies to amplification, source, IC's, etc. If buying pre-owned gear, this is not practicable in most instances. It should certainly be weighed in the decision making process, though.

JMHO,
Jerry

+1 on this and other advice.  Some dealers will let you take home and audition on the days they are closed.  Don't know how much of this is still in practice but it doesn't hurt to ask and plan on reserving in advance.  I would start with speakers and work backwards cause you gotta know if they will perform to your satisfaction in your real world setting and how efficient they are to tell you your power requirements.  If your room is on the small side, the big bass you hear in the showroom may be over abundant in your room.  If your room is smallish, think two way speakers with 6.5" mid/bass drivers.  These tend to have higher power requirements, not lower.

Whoa.  Sounds like I'm talkin to a newbie (thought I was).  I didn't venture to the top of the topic.

[Levi]

Nice write up. 

I would recommend to determine budget as to how much one wants to spend for each component as a starting point.  Most of the case, money is an object and if you are with a spouse...WAF factor is important.

Cheers,
Levi

[PhilNYC]

I believe the speaker/room interface is number one.  The size of the room, necessary/allowable placement, seating position, "goals" such as even dispersion in a room or specific to "a spot", listener preferences (multi-ways, OBs, line arrays, hi-eff, single drivers), reverberant characteristics/whether treatments are an option, and other factors dictate what speakers have a better chance of working in a room.  Screw this one up and nothing upstream will fix it.  As always it's best to try before you buy in your room but that's tough to do these days.  Having an escape plan is always smart if things don't go as hoped.

Then, an amp to properly drive that speaker in that room becomes paramount.  Certain amps like certain speakers and vice versa.  Also listener preferences play an important role.

I agree with this...

[vman71]

I would add a 4th option for amps and that is chip/ICE amps.  The two chip amps that I have are truly incedible.

[Bigfish]

Face plates.  Face plates have to match.

If I have to do it all over again, I wouldn't get any gear that did not match my Noir theme.  The sound really suffers when you have to stare at silver plates.   

 

It would seem that housing the electronics in an expensive enclosure is important to we the audio equipment buying public.  However, with the added cost of those pretty boxes I am at the point of caring more and more about the sound and to hell with the pretty boxes!

Ken

[sueata1]

90DB+ SPEAKERS,,,THAT REALLY LEAVES OUT A LOT OF VERY GOOD SPEAKERS

MEL

[jimdgoulding]

Basics for choosing new equipment:

Quality of delivery is just as important or more so.

Agree totally (small shameless plug, couldn't resist; mine, not the Shades).

[Niteshade]

90DB+ SPEAKERS,,,THAT REALLY LEAVES OUT A LOT OF VERY GOOD SPEAKERS

MEL

There is an extremely good reason why speaker sensitivity was mentioned: Low sensitivity speakers are only good for high power, high current amplifiers. Buying difficult to drive speakers severely limits one's amplifier choices.People have more of a tendency to try different amplifiers than to do multiple speaker swaps. Speakers are too difficult to store or unload(sell) due to their size, weight and fragile nature. It is better to stick with high sensitivity speakers and there are allot of good ones out there.

[Niteshade]

"There seems to be some discrepancy between points A and C regarding speakers. "Choose the widest frequency response", yet "frequency response isn't everything."

There is no discrepancy at all. Advertised frequency response and quality of delivery are two different animals.