Hello All,
I recently read through an interesting thread on AG in the speaker section on the best way to allocate one's budget for a system (the consensus was to put about half towards the speakers and the remainder towards everything else).
So on that note, what is the best way to allocate one's non-speaker budget? There seems to be a growing number of improved components to buy that are supposed to make a big difference. Where would a person's money be best spent? Below are some items to possibly consider for a components budget. For this example, the components budget would be $10K (keeps the math easy) and the speakers would be worth around $15k. I know the allocation would vary on more factors (such as music preference, digital vs analogue focus, etc) but I'm wondering as a general overall rule what has worked best?
Amplifier
Pre-amp
Turn table
Turn table cartridge
CD player
DAC
Surge protection
Speaker cables
Power cables
Equipment racks/tables
Room treatments
(Are there any I missed?)
Xerotrace
03-29-15
Sorry, there is no secret formula. I am surprised to read that many are still using the system building model from the 1970/1980 era, the old "half your budget to the speakers" formula. I thought that left this hobby a loooong time ago.
Everyone is different, some folks even use 75% of their budget on cables nowadays. While I don't agree with that method, I don't tell other folks how to spend their money.
Some folks say that you should spend 50% or more on the source, that the source is the most important link. Some say amp, some say speakers, even others will say cables, room, etc.
My system breaks down like this:
Speakers - 15%
Amp - 16%
Digital - 12%
Analog - 12%
Conditoner/Cables/Cords/Tweaks - 45%
Now this works great for me. Will it work for others? Some yes, some no. I don't presume to tell anyone how to spend their money, and I don't care what others feel about how I spend my money.
Listen to as much stuff as you can, and buy what sounds good to you.