I have read numerous posts regarding the relative importance of speaker quality vs other components in a system. Quite a few audiophiles out there believe speakers are the most important link and therefore should constitute the biggest expenditure. It seems to me that your source would be the most important given it’s the origin point. Speakers should faithfully reproduce the signal originating from the source, via the amplifier. My personal experiences seem to support this notion. Of course, any system is only as good as its weakest link, but I am curious why so many seem to subscribe to this belief. Interested in your thoughts.

  • gnostalgick@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    10 months ago

    I don’t think anyone here is saying that the source isn’t important. Just that most $100ish streamers are beyond competent these days. But a $100ish speaker is bound to have severe limitations is not outright audible flaws. And these will be just as obvious even when paired with a $10k dac. But most people would still be blown away by $10k speakers and $100 source.

    Both budgets are a bit silly irl, but it’s not about blindly following some ideal audiophile philosophy, it’s about practical value for money. Digital sources have simply gotten better and cheaper almost every year this century, whereas speaker technology has remained pretty much the same. Diminishing returns just kick in at very different price points than 50 years ago.

    Turntables of course change that balance to some extent, but I still think a $2k setup (new Technics & nice cartridge, Rega if you prefer) is still good enough to reasonably and happily pair with speakers ten times the price.