The Power Amp is the bedrock of the system

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JCS123

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JCS123 said:
...and not the speakers. This has been my opinion for decades (and I l know that I'm in the minority here), but the Constellation Audio Statement Mono amp photo teaser in Mono and Stereo is one of the first times that I've ever seen a publication come out and say it. thank you, Matej Isak!

That is a glorious looking amp!

CONSTELLATION AMPLIFICATION – UNBELIEVABLE MAGIC MADE REAL – Ultimate High-Fidelity

www.monoandstereo.com www.monoandstereo.com
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It’s one of components and no doubt one of the biggest and most important however if I had to give a vote for the “bedrock of a system” my vote would go to the room, treatment of room and speaker placement ALL more important than any other part of the system.

The rest doesn’t matter if the room sucks, speakers inappropriately placed, etc.

I’ve seen too many chasing “perfection” thinking new amps, DAC, speaker etc will fix what they can never fix.
 
MontanaJoe said:
It’s one of components and no doubt one of the biggest and most important however if I had to give a vote for the “bedrock of a system” my vote would go to the room, treatment of room and speaker placement ALL more important than any other part of the system.

The rest doesn’t matter if the room sucks, speakers inappropriately placed, etc.

I’ve seen too many chasing “perfection” thinking new amps, DAC, speaker etc will fix what they can never fix.
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Like I said, I am in the minority for sure. I guess it's just me and Matej so far....
 
I agree with Joe. I have seen too many systems compromised by poor speaker placement or just plain wrong speakers for that room. No amplifier will fix that.

I am also frustrated by the weight of many amplifiers. I live in a retirement community. Most of us are walking wounded. 90-pound equipment is not going to happen. As the audiophile age increases, our tolerance for and ability to use mandates lighter weight equipment not monster blocks of aluminum.

Waiting (im)patiently for VAC to get the final parts to finish and ship these 40-pound beauties.
 
JCS123 said:
Like I said, I am in the minority for sure. I guess it's just me and Matej so far....
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The way I see things in audio there are independent variables and interdependent variables.

The room is independent. The best, biggest most expensive components can’t make a shitty room great. However a great room, properly treated with speakers properly placed is the ONLY way to realize the capabilities of all else.

Once the room and speakers are properly set up then you can assess. While all of today’s equipment is so good, to use terms like this blows the doors off of that is absurd, what is true some things have more and less synergy wirh other things. Why they amp you look at may be AMAZING but may be less so depending on the associated equipment and hence interdependent.
 
The room is a pretty big deal- half of the success story at least.

I've seen a lot of people fall in love with a certain kind of speaker, and then struggle to find the right kind of amp to play them, because they don't like solid state or tubes or whatever. So I've been of the opinion for a long time that you need to sort out that latter bit first and then find speakers that work well with the amp you selected.

But if the preamp and sources aren't up to snuff it won't matter how good the amp and speakers are. You can't make up with stuff downstream!

So IMO/IME the preamp is the heart of the system...
 
MontanaJoe said:
The way I see things in audio there are independent variables and interdependent variables.

The room is independent. The best, biggest most expensive components can’t make a shitty room great. However a great room, properly treated with speakers properly placed is the ONLY way to realize the capabilities of all else.

Once the room and speakers are properly set up then you can assess. While all of today’s equipment is so good, to use terms like this blows the doors off of that is absurd, what is true some things have more and less synergy wirh other things. Why they amp you look at may be AMAZING but may be less so depending on the associated equipment and hence interdependent.
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I agree. Both my HT room and dedicated music room have acoustic treatment. I consider that mandatory before any equipment is considered.

I had Magico A3 speakers in my 2-channel HT setup. I upgraded to A5s. There was so much more there, there. I was shocked. Same room. Same room treatment. Same Boulder 866. No change in treatment or amplification would have provided the same huge improvement.
 
atmasphere said:
The room is a pretty big deal- half of the success story at least.

I've seen a lot of people fall in love with a certain kind of speaker, and then struggle to find the right kind of amp to play them, because they don't like solid state or tubes or whatever. So I've been of the opinion for a long time that you need to sort out that latter bit first and then find speakers that work well with the amp you selected.

But if the preamp and sources aren't up to snuff it won't matter how good the amp and speakers are. You can't make up with stuff downstream!

So IMO/IME the preamp is the heart of the system...
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Agree

Not be contemptuous but I would just rephrase your comment. There is really no very little success without the room.
 
The room/speaker synergy is most crucial. Some rooms just won’t work with some typology of speaker. Others are made for a particular typology of speaker. Controlled directivity, dipole, Omni, monopole, etc.
 
Dizzie said:
I agree with Joe. I have seen too many systems compromised by poor speaker placement or just plain wrong speakers for that room. No amplifier will fix that.

I am also frustrated by the weight of many amplifiers. I live in a retirement community. Most of us are walking wounded. 90-pound equipment is not going to happen. As the audiophile age increases, our tolerance for and ability to use mandates lighter weight equipment not monster blocks of aluminum.

Waiting (im)patiently for VAC to get the final parts to finish and ship these 40-pound beauties.
Click to expand...

This is why I have down sized my system as I approach age 68. I sold my 105 pound Pass amp and I am selling a 50 pound BAT preamp. Bought a 70 pound integrated amp. But stupid me, I bought a pair of stand mount speakers that weigh 66 pounds each, lol.
 
Mechnutt said:
This is why I have down sized my system as I approach age 68. I sold my 105 pound Pass amp and I am selling a 50 pound BAT preamp. Bought a 70 pound integrated amp. But stupid me, I bought a pair of stand mount speakers that weigh 66 pounds each, lol.
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I’m not sure how much you gained with that 70 lb integrated. But I do get the motivation.

I’m 72 years old. I have two sets of speakers that weigh in at about 90 lbs per speaker, a 90 lb SET and two SVS subs at 100 lbs each. The subs and one set of those speakers made the trip back to my cabin a few weeks ago. They won’t be moving again, at least not by me.
 
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