What is the weakest link?

If there is no perfect system, shall I start from the room, speakers, amp or source to build the ultimate system?

How can I pick the right speakers without having the amp and vice verca?

Lets forget about the budget for a second.

Can someone explains please, how do you pick the first component in the system and how do you justify/measure your decsion?

Surely we start from budget. Either immediate budget or future intention. It is then down to short listing and demo. I agree that speakers and room treatment limits the overall success of the 'project'.

nice

look ... firstly you won't find perfection. Going down that road will lead to dissapointment. 

Me I would start with making sure the room has lots of soft furnishings. Carpet, rugs, curtains etc. Then within your budget choose some well made speakers. If you need advice on this the ask.  but the likes of PMC, Proac, Tannoy, Dynaudio, Neat would be a start. the rest is down to a good amp, and your source. Remember a great listening environment can do wonders for your musical enjoyment.

This is such a subjective hobby, that you will get a lot of advice, half of which is conflicting and the other half, is people pushing what they have.

My advice is to try amps of different Classes (ie. A/B/AB/D/) and types (ie. Solid State/Valve/Hybrid).....IMO. If you just walk into a dealer and listen to a couple of the "usual suspects", you could end up losing out.

You have to truly understand the sound that you like......and the only way to do that, is to try a lot of different kit, as something can sound good, until you hear better.

Whereas amps can sound very different, speakers can sound hugely different.....and an understanding of how different brands sound, along with knowing what type of sound you like, is key to system matching .

FWIW. I have a very rough rule of thumb, which says that you have to double what you pay, to get a very worthwhile improvement...this is provided you selected the right kit in the first place, otherwise a sideways move, or even a downgrade, can bring an improvement ( due to personal preference).

Perfect advice.

I know. 

If you ever want ideas, throw in a budget and you'll get some good suggestions.

I too have Mara pm 6004 and  changed my 20 Y old  speakers ( little tower on stand)

B&W DM 1800 with II hand B&W 603 S2:

It is a big improvements for me, more bass, sweet mids & highs and awesome spk design for 300 gb pounds!

Although what many people are saying, this amp can drive some big speakers

like and better than more expensive amps...      So I'll substitute yours little and imho bright-ish Kef with

someting more beefy... 

Thanks.

The plan is:

1. Replace DACMagic with a better DAC.

2. Bring £2k (my budget) speakers back home from different manuf. - PMC, Proac, Spendor, other suggestions...?

3. Pick "the best" speakers.

4. Replace the amp as tha last component in the system. 

Not a bad plan, though before you spend money on a DAC, you should hear what a good Streamer (Linn / Naim / Cyrus) can do.

The other thing to consider, is that by getting certain speakers first, you could be limiting the amps you can choose....ie. Valve amps could well need easy to drive speakers, and SS Class A often need reasonably sensitive speakers.

You might like to consider going on an amp pilgrimage first (even if you don't buy one at this stage)....as what you like, may determine the speakers you go for.....just a thought.

eg. Lavardin make lovely sounding amps, but the cheaper ones work best with speakers, whose impedance doesn't drop through the floor.

Have you got a 'propper' hifi dealer close by, if so use him. Not bloody several oak trees or richer for poorer sounds and the like. How did you arrive at your current set up ( I have a sneaky feeling I know whats coming here).  Get a Dealer to codge a couple of set ups together that give a totaly different sound to what you have got now , showroom dem will do. Then if you prefer a more laid back sound ,work around that. If you like something more in yer face, work around that. Get a good working relationship going with a Dealer who cares about his customers (you) and his music, not a till filler. Ask questions, tell him what you like , more importantly what you dont like. If he does not do home dems,walk away and find another.

If the Dealer starts on the 'this is brilliant dont you think' tread carefully. If he says 'ok you have heard that option , what dont you like about it ' you are halfway there.

Where are you based if you dont mind me asking ?.

Nice one Cno, you have just saved me a bucket full of typing 

I'm based in Bristol.

The current system was put together at SevenOaks (Bristol).

I auditioned 4x different speakers (B&W, KEF, MonitorAudio, Tannoy) with 4x different amps (Marantz, Yamaha, NAD, Rotel) and 2x DACs (CA and Baresford).

There is nothing wrong with those brands per se, but the only way to hear some great alternatives* is to winkle out a specialist dealer.

* Lavardin, Electrocompaniet, Musical Fidelity, Audio Analogue, Sugden, Pathos, Unison Research, Icon Audio, Puresound, Audio Note, Sonus Faber, Audio Physic, Focal, Triangle, Vienna Acoustics, Usher, Epos etc etc