What is your cost for each system category ?

Redwoodgarden,

I do not truly know why you have posted this question. But I have seen many, many discussions on this matter of component cost vs. percetage of total system cost. I must say, with all respect, that looking at building an audio system by ANY set standard or formula, not make you right about anything, and will not GUARANTEE the proper balance and synergy that is possible regardless of cost v. percentage of system cost.

This hobby has been an incredible journey of discovery for me and a real life-learning experience. Let this discovery happen by careful planning based on knowing yourself and what is right for you. I mean it. After immersing myself in this hobby for the last five years by going to dealer showrooms, 5 CES shows and 2 Stereophile shows, I am finally at peace. I now understand the true subjectiveness of this audio hobby.

Is it wrong to pair a $5000 amp with a 2K pair of speakers and then cable it up with a $200 set of DIY cabling. I don't think so as long as it sounds right to YOU in your system.

Balance, to me is most important sound-wise, not percentage-wise. Honestly, I have owned a $40k retail system (front end) and had to pair it with a crappy pair of $300 DCM speakers. The DCM's never sounded as so good. Really! I hated those speakers. They were just all bad....with my all bad crappy starter gear.

If you ever hear 7k pair of cables, or whatever, elevate your system to the level of revelation and righteousness like you have never heard before, I believe you will have found the right percentage ration for YOU.

I guess what we have here is a good lesson in humility. It's fine to start off with general formulas. Your right that as one gets deeper into this obsession, the more individualistic the system becomes. The only thing that we all have in common is to have a system that pleases ourselves.

I tried to follow the "Golden Rule Formula" to the letter of the law for room dimension and speaker position, but found it to be impractical due the speakers that I have which are Khorns. Instead, I tinkered with rear speaker position and levels to get the imaging that was missing from using only front speaker Khorns.

I was told by the maker of the subwoofers that I bought that I MUST place the subs in room corners to get the best effect. That was impractical, because the Khorns were there. To solve this problem, the subs were positioned above the Khorns in the corner. Although unorthodox, the setup works.

As mentioned in responses to this thread, cables should be treated as seriously as the other main units in the system. I spent a bundle on cables after listening to this philosophy for the past year. Personally I found little difference between the top of the line Nordost and it's middle of the line Red Dawn. It certainly was not worth spending $2,500 more per meter. However, I found a big, big difference between the middle of the line Madrigal Proceed, and the top of the line Mark Levinson amplifiers.

I know that most of you think Wilson Puppies are God's gift to mankind, however, I have found them to be too tame and sound weak. To me nothing even comes close to the dynamics and lifelike sound of, please forgive me, Khorns.

The purpose of this thread was to see how close most of you came to a general consensus of priorities. The general consensus of priorities for experienced "Goners" is simply to have a system that pleases the individual.

I didn't plan on it, but it ended up equally divided.
cable cost the most, but only because they require a long run.

BTW: your orginal formula,if you will, does not have racks, stands (amplifier and speaker) OR power conditioners. Just some additional $ mania to add to the pie. FWIW, the above are, (especially power conditioning) significant elements to a WELL balanced audio system. peace, warren

Seriously, I wouldn't spend too much time worrying about the absoulute percentages, but I'd try to make sure that you spend the least on cables. You have far, far less to gain from an expensive cable than from a better component.