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What is proper ratio of money spent on amp/preamp/integrated vs speakers? 1:1?

Lately I'm finding more of a difference in SQ as a move up the chain in the amp/preamp/integrated market and not so much if I try to upgrade speakers.  Plus, buying and selling (and shipping) speakers is a PITA.  But having just upgraded from Devialet D200 to the dual mono D400 and loving it, it feels odd having $8000 (I'm in the used market almost exclusively) worth of power running $4000 worth of speakers, Dynaudio Contour 30's. 

I'm now wanting to upgrade again to the Expert Pro 440, but then we're taking about $10,000 and even more of a skewed ratio.
What is the proper ratio?  Thoughts?
mjmcubfn
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mzkmxcv
777 posts
 
Rule of thumb is that speakers (including subs) should be 1/2 your budget. If buying used gear it throws it off, but still. 
 
If a $1000 speaker needs a $2000 amp to sound good, then it’s not a good speaker. 
 
How I would spend $10,000: 
 
• -$3000: Ascend Acoustics Sierra Towers w/RAAL. 
• -$1800: Dual Rythmik F12 subs. 
• -$1000: Room treatment.  
• -$1300: MiniDSP SHD. 
• -$2200: ATI AT522NC amp. 
• -$700: Cables (don’t need to spend this much, but why not).
fleschler
2,028 posts
 
The lower powered Sherwood 7100 & 7100A beat the pants off Sherwood 7200 and 7300.  The Yamaha CR 620 is also easily better sounding than the CR 1020 and 2020.  I know, I tried several  of each model.  Sure they're older receivers, but the lower powered ones had simpler power supplies and stages.  They just sound better.  I use the CR 620 with ADS L620s for my video systems.

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ackerdo
14 posts
 

For digital playback, I spend ~30% on source and DAC, another ~30% on speakers, and the remaining on preampfification, amplification, and cables. That ratio has served me well in multiple system setups. There's never been an obvious weak link. 

However, everyone has made good points about finding "your sound".  I recently violated my rules and acquired speakers that are only around ~10-15% of the stack cost. They were special to my ears and brain so, even if you adopt a ratio, you may end up violating it anyway down the road.

The common denominator here is, buy what works for you.

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