How do you determine how much to spend on speakers

IMO:
1) Speakers contribute more to the character of a system than do the other components (maybe exception = cartridges).

2) Amplifier technology is much more mature than digital front end technology. A quality amp will please for many years. Digital is outdated much more quickly.

3) A budding audio hobbiest may not be atuned to his/her preferences regarding characteristics of a system.


Given the above and a budget of 5K, one reasonable suggestion might be to set 30-40% of budget aside for speakers. Split the remainder to an integrated amp ~30%, digital front end ~30% (maybe less depending on type}, and the remaining 10% for cables. Purchase the amp, front end, cables and a lower budget pair of speakers (eg. B&W685 at $650 retail) setting the remaining funds aside for future speaker purchase. Enjoy this system while exploring the speaker market and identifying the system character that most pleases. Once identified, upgrade speakers to satisfy. There are simply to many quality 1.5 - 2K speaker systems to judge, all sounding quite different. In putting this system together, remember that the room is a most important component and interacts with speakers to a great extent.

I think Mesch makes some good points but I would go even further. Starting off with some cheap speakers before taking the plunge on the "final" choice is worth considering but I would consider spending $3500 on the final speakers because I believe speakers are 90% of the sound. I used a $300 CD player and $400 integraded with $16,000 Revel Ultima2 speakers (bought used)and it sounded great. Later using a Pathos $3000 integrated amp the sound improved for sure but not as much as you would think and then using a $6500 amp, I achieved a very slight improvement, as well using adding a $1000 OPPO CD/SACD player. Don't put money into expensive electronics or cables. And speaker placement is of utmost importance in getting the sound you paid for. Buy used when you can and get the sound for 1/2 price.

All of this stuff is, at times, mind numbing. First let me say that I am not an audiophile. I can't afford to be. I have too many money pitts that I'm throwing money into to even consider a system costing $10K or more.

I am of the obsessive/anal sort about some things. I always read the instructions and can't cook a meal without the use of a measuring cup. In other words, I'll always use a formula (if given the opportunity) because using a formula is suppose to get you to a desired result.

This just doesn't seem to work with audio gear. I believe trying to assign a percentage of your budget to speakers will likely not get you where you want to be.

I agree that speakers are more responsible for what you hear than any other component. Of course, I'm not saying that upgrading from $100 pre amp to a $1000 pre amp won't get you noticeably better sounding music, but I am saying that when when comparing a $1K NAD to a $1K Rotel, the differences likely won't be like night and day.

On the other hand, when it comes to speakers, I think that each brand (and even models within the brands' lines) have a distinctive sound that you will either like or not like.

I think that you should find a pair of speakers that will sound good in your listening environment and just don't assume that more expensive speakers will sound better in your home.

For what it's worth, I think that you should put a limit of $2500 for speakers. With the other $2500, you can get into a good preamp, amp and source. If you can find speakers that cost less than $2500 that you really like, all the better.

As your system and wire gets better so do the way the speakers sound.

Small equipment and speakers can focus more quality into less, the bigger the speakers typically the bigger the power has to be. Small quality power can drive smaller high quality speakers.

Integrated sets can keep the money in the electronics instead of the wire if you aren't going to want to spend on good wire.

Look for one of the sleeper CD players at around $500, they're out there, especially used.

as an owner of focal 726v speakers that i bought new agter reading favorable reviews i would not recommend anyone to purchase focal. a tweeter of my speakers bought in october 12 which are still in warranty gave up on saturday without any apparent reason. it just stopped making sounf while i was listening to bela fleck. i am not a loud listener and mostly my listening comprises of classical, jazz and folk and my volume is never more than 11 o clock max. i wonder what happened to the tweeter. speakers are connected to kenwood kmx 1000 amplifier and a carver pre with nad cdp. ive been listening to my music for atleast 20 years but never has this happened to any of my equipment. even my old infinity's are still going strong. plus the after sales of focal is so pathetic you would not want to know of it. I would strongly recommend that you dont waste your hard earned money on these focal products particularly where after sales is worse than anything even during warranty.