Introduction
Once, 10 watts were enough to fill a vast cinema with emotion and presence. Now, even 600 struggle to breathe life into a living room. We haven’t just added watts; we’ve subtracted soul.
This endless cycle of harder-to-drive speakers demanding ever more power needs to end.
The first reason — and I’m sorry to say it — is that these systems are boring. A box made from unobtanium alloy, milled with five-axis CNC machines until 95% of the material is reduced to metal shavings; drivers built from space-age composites, coated in diamond vapor… and yet, somehow, they sound like anything but music.
The second reason? They’ve become unacceptably expensive. We keep throwing more and more money at a synthetically created problem instead of addressing its root cause.
And what is the root cause? The speakers.
If you’re like me and tired of this, keep reading. If you’re happy with your current setup, I envy you — feel free to move on.
The Problem with Modern Speaker Design
Most modern speakers use a dynamic driver-in-a-box design — typically a three-way configuration. At its core, this is the most basic, no-risk approach to speaker design. No hassle. No surprises.
But most of them are also wildly inefficient. Worse, they’re incredibly difficult to drive. Many present awful impedance curves. Some dip below 2 ohms at certain frequencies.
Two ohms? That’s practically a short circuit. What is the amplifier doing — driving a wire?
To cope with this, amplifier manufacturers respond by building ever more powerful amps, with power supplies so massive they could keep a household online for a few hours.
Pity.
Or… is there a pattern here? A silent agreement between speaker and amplifier manufacturers?
I don’t know…
But I remember a similar pattern from the IT industry. For nearly two decades, Microsoft would release a more CPU-intensive version of Windows, and Intel would release a faster processor. People upgraded their PCs — and at the end of the day, both companies made billions off the cycle.
When you look at the ultra high-end of the hi-fi market, a familiar pattern emerges. There are only a handful of mainstream speaker manufacturers, and only a few amplifier brands capable of driving their products. As you move further upmarket, the freedom of choice begins to shrink — not expand.
And most of these companies, by hi-fi industry standards, are giants. Backed by powerful marketing machines, they dominate the landscape. You’ll see a hi-fi influencer — pardon me, reviewer — touring their factories on YouTube every couple of months. Their gear is everywhere: magazine covers, YouTube thumbnails, and the main stages of hi-fi exhibitions.
The Boutique Rebels
When you shift your focus away from the mainstream, you’ll notice a few manufacturers — mostly boutique — boldly going against the current.
One such brand is Devore Fidelity, led by John Devore. I’d like to highlight one of his standout designs: the O/96.
First of all, it’s a wide-baffle speaker. Wide baffles have fallen out of favor in modern speaker design, mostly due to concerns about diffraction — which is why most contemporary speakers have narrow front baffles. But John Devore uses a wide baffle intentionally, not as a relic, but as a tool to increase efficiency. And he doesn’t stop there. He tunes the baffle — likely spending countless hours — to achieve accurate, natural sound, much like a master luthier shaping a fine instrument.
The result? A two-way speaker with 96 dB sensitivity and a nominal impedance of 10 ohms — using modern drivers. These are exceptionally easy-to-drive speakers. You can pair them with virtually any amplifier you like: from a 10-watt single-ended triode tube amp to a hulking solid-state powerhouse. The speaker doesn’t demand a specific topology or brand. It gives you freedom.
Another example: Blumenhofer Acoustics — the brand behind the speakers I own and love. I’ve written a dedicated post about them. Most Blumenhofer models offer over 94 dB sensitivity and 8-ohm nominal impedance. The model I own is rated at 4 ohms, but the company thoughtfully includes an impedance linearization circuit in the crossover to make the speaker more tube-friendly.
Again, we come back to freedom of choice. I’ve used everything from a solid-state integrated amp to a massive Class A power amp, and now a SET tube amplifier. The speakers worked beautifully with each of them. They didn’t dictate what amp I must use — I got to choose what sounded best to me.
There are many other manufacturers I haven’t mentioned, each exploring alternative design philosophies: point-source speakers, concentric drivers, single-driver designs, horns, field-coil drivers, and more.
This isn’t just about freedom of choice — though that matters — it’s ultimately about sound. When crafted with care, skill, and time, these alternative designs often sound far better than the typical dynamic driver-in-a-box approach.
Speakers — arguably the most influential component in any system after the room itself — are also the most personal. They aren’t lab instruments or components of a spacecraft. They’re more like finely crafted musical instruments. They don’t just reproduce music — they play it.
How to Put Together a Hi-Fi System
The first question you need to ask yourself is: Do you actually listen to music?
I mean really listen — sitting in front of your system in a dimly lit room, fully immersed — or does music mostly play in the background while you’re doing something else: reading, cooking, working?
If it’s background music, there are plenty of all-in-one systems and active speakers with decent sound. They’re convenient and often great for casual listening. But they’re beyond the scope of this post — and this blog.
If you’re a critical listener and planning to build a hi-fi system, the very first thing to decide is where the system will go: a shared living space or a dedicated listening room?
The room is the most important component in your system — and the most overlooked. It introduces more distortion than any amplifier, DAC, or cable ever will. That’s why it has the greatest impact on what you actually hear.
If your system will live in a shared space, your options might be limited. Aesthetic considerations — especially getting the approval of a significant other — can often take precedence.
But if you have a dedicated room for music, that’s ideal. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that acoustic treatment is essential to get the most out of your system. Just know: these treatments tend to be ugly and take up a lot of space.
That said, the same basic principles apply to both setups.
After choosing the room, the second step is determining your budget — and there are some less obvious items that can cost more than you think. I’ll get to those.
If it’s not already clear: The most important purchase is the speakers. They are the heart of your system — and ironically, the hardest component to change later. Everything else will be chosen and tuned around them.
Stay away from the mainstream. Avoid the speakers you see everywhere. There are many lesser-known options that offer better sound, better value, are easier to drive, and — most importantly — are more fun and engaging to listen to.
Don’t shy away from spending the majority of your budget on speakers. If you get them right the first time, they’ll stay with you for many years.
What Comes After Speakers?
The amplifier comes second. If you’ve followed my earlier suggestions, you should have the freedom to choose from a wide range of amplifiers. There are plenty of excellent options at reasonable prices — and unlike speakers, amplifiers are much easier to swap out. Home trials are key whenever possible (check out this post).
Sources — whether analog or digital — are a broad topic. If you don’t already have a CD or vinyl collection, you’ll likely start with a streaming setup that supports high-quality services.
Hidden Costs to Watch Out For
Hidden cost #1: The music server Yes, it makes a big difference. A good music server can have a huge impact on sound quality, and prices range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars. A purpose-built server, designed specifically for audio, is well worth the investment.
Hidden cost #2: Cables Cables do matter. I was a skeptic for a long time. I ran my system with stock power cords and cheap interconnects — until one day, my best friend brought over an aftermarket power cable and a couple of decent interconnects. We plugged them in, and the improvement was so striking, I was mad at myself for not being more open-minded earlier.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on cables — but stock ones simply won’t do the job. In my experience, the most critical is the speaker cable, followed by power cords, and then interconnects.
I recommend budgeting for a full set of decent cables from the same manufacturer and product line, and upgrading them all at once. If possible, try them at home first. Also, be patient: cables can take a few days to settle in, so don’t judge the sound too quickly.
Hidden cost #3: The rack This ties directly into vibration control, which is often overlooked. A proper hi-fi rack can be surprisingly expensive. At the beginning, any rigid piece of furniture will do — the key is rigidity. Later on, if your budget allows, a well-designed hi-fi rack is absolutely a worthy upgrade.
Stretching Your Budget
If you’re on a tight budget, the second-hand market is your best friend. Even if your budget isn’t limited, buying used can help you afford a higher-quality component than you’d be able to buy new.
Many audiophiles take excellent care of their gear, and second-hand equipment often looks and performs like new. If the seller is local — especially if they live in the same city — they might even let you try the component at home before committing. It’s a great way to discover hidden gems without breaking the bank.
Final Verdict
There are countless components to choose from, and narrowing down a shortlist isn’t always easy. The internet can be a powerful ally — if you know how to separate signal from noise.
But keep in mind: reviews, specs, measurements, and influencer hype are only part of the picture. None of them can fully predict how something will sound in your room, with your system, and to your ears.
Don’t be afraid to go against the grain. The mainstream isn’t always wrong — but it’s rarely where magic lives.
At the end of the day, a hi-fi system isn’t about checking boxes or chasing trends. It’s about building something that moves you — something that makes you want to stop, sit down, and really listen. If you’ve done that, you’ve already succeeded.
And if you’re still figuring it out? You’re in good company. That’s what this whole journey is about.