What is more important, a receiver or speakers? This question haunts many home audio fans, especially when it comes to allocating the budget for the purchase of equipment.
There is no unequivocal answer to this question because everything depends on each person’s specific situation, capabilities, preferences, and tastes.
In this article, we will try to understand this issue as far as possible and give practical recommendations.
Should I upgrade speakers or receiver first
If you are thinking about improving your home system, then the receiver or speakers update the first question will surely come to you.
From the point of view of a tangible effect, it is better to start with upgrading the speakers, and here’s why. For spending the same amount on new speakers or a receiver, say $800, the effect of replacing speakers will be much more noticeable, than getting a high end av receiver. This applies to both the front and center speakers and the subwoofer. Investing in a budget for new speakers will give you a much more noticeable boost in sound quality than buying a receiver for the same price.
But it is worth looking at this situation from the other side too. If you already have a decent 5.1 or higher multi-channel speaker system but use an old receiver, it won’t let you get the most out of it. This is where it’s worth investing in a new receiver with support for surround sound and other modern features.
It is also worth considering the situation when you have good speakers but a weak subwoofer. In this case, it deserves an upgrade. The sub is quite an essential part of the system. No matter how much you improve your speakers or receiver, you will not get the desired sound in your apartment without a good subwoofer. Just like a powerful 12-inch subwoofer will not improve the sound of small 4-inch speakers. All your equipment should complement each other.
As for the purchase of new audio equipment, we can also give recommendations. Let’s say your budget is $1500. Then a good solution would be to use it like this:
- $500 for the receiver;
- $700 for main speakers;
- $300 for sub.
You should also distribute a larger or smaller budget in the same proportions.
Summing up the above, we note that your main task when buying or upgrading a system is to find a balance. You don’t have to invest in an expensive receiver and use it with budget low-power speakers. On the other hand, you shouldn’t do vice versa either. A budget receiver will not allow you to experience all the charm of new high-tech speakers. Therefore, choose equipment that suits each other, paying more attention to the speakers.
