Perentage system $$ for speakers

I am sort of baffled by the above posts, but i guess everyone has thier own way. I think you should select the rest of your equipment based on your speakers. Buy the cheapest speakers that you really like and buy appropriate electronics for them. You may not have enough money left over. But it will be less expensive to save up to buy better gear later than to replace your speakers and start over. I don't like the idea of set percentages, but unless you own a turntable, I think the speakers should be the most expensive piece.

I say it is a sliding scale depending on system total value. For $5000 system only 25% for speakers as you need to spend more money for good source CDP/Turntable. For $20,000 system or higher you may have 25% to 50% on speakers as you lready now have good source and amp/preamp and can spend more for speakers, Sam

Ohlala, there is not such a thing, as "...their own way". There is only "right" and "wrong" way! I am sorry, but you chose the second choice, which is wrong one. And that is what you should be "baffled" about...!

IMHO speaker tend to be the least limiting factor in the musical chain. Think about it this way: A pair of good quality $300-500 speakers are going to sound better and better when paired with better and better electronics. Imagine a pair of Superones(not my recommendation but a good example), if you pair them with typical NAD gear(same $$ range) you will get a fairly nice sound. Maybe a little bright and not much bass, but fine. Now take those same speakers and pair them with a higher quality amp, say a bryston b-60(also not a rec, just an example), the speakers are going to come alive the bass will be defined and tight, better soundstage, gain free, and everything about the sound will come in to focus or 'come to life'. If you were to reverse the analagy: The high quality(read high dollar) speakers are not going to improve low level electronics. So, the NAD is only going to sound MORE like an NAD as you improive the quality of the speakers. That's because good quality speakers only become more transparent (which means they reveal more of what coming at them, good or bad). Good speakers (meaning anything of quality $250-60,000) will produce only what they are given(or attempt to produce what is given-although many fail because of coloration which is another discussion) and will never improve the sound signal. This is not to say that speakers do not have different, 'signature', sounds and that these signitures can mask electronic flaws, hence the need to 'match' your system. This would be the reason that the NAD owner hated his B&Ws and the Jolida owner thinks they're the best on earth. I have used only amps as examples but CD players/TT are as(if not more) important than the pre/amp. If I were forced to give a percentage I would say spend no more on speakers than on any other part, and spend equal on the CD/TT and pre/amp. There are bargins at every price point and the 'signitures' of many brands are so unique that price is of little measure of the greatness/enjoyment. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that you should pair $5000 electronics with $300 speakers. I am saying that speakers are not most important par of a system(dispite common belief). Anyway, I hope this helps.

I've done some switching around recently but the approximate list prices of the system I started out with was. Conrad Johnson PV10A Preamp $1500; Conrad Johnson MF2100 Power Amp $1500; and B&W P5 Speakers $1500. I guess 1/3 then.