How do you determine how much to spend on speakers

P.S. -- if you really want to focus on the downstream side of the house, then we should be talking about the spotty quality of the source material, which is the subject of many other Forum threads. After all "garbage in-garbage out."

Bruce (Bifwynne), thanks for your witty posts. IMO you're right :-)

Personally I've never followed any kind of formula. I just do a lot of research and as much listening as possible, and buy when a component that fits my financial comfort zone particularly excites me.

Best regards,
-- Al

You are all right. I recently read about someone who has a few different systems because they do different things. I feel most all our quality equipment today can be made to sound exceptional. So what ever speaker we get it can be made to sound great . Or whatever source can be made to sound great. I have found with my own systems optimizing them has been very satisfying. I then go to these shows RMAF or B & M stores and wonder how my system sounds so much better. Then quickly I realize why. It has taken awhile but now I can forget about the next best greatest amazing material and groove to the funky square waves without nary a distortion if you can catch my balloon man.

IMO to many in "HEA" devalue the importance of the speaker. Yes, I agree "garbage in garbage out" but putting 10k+ of electronics to extract every last nuance of a compromised $2k speaker is wasteful spending. My best advice is to go one or two steps above your original speaker plans. This way you avoid the finacial loss of upgrading and the PIA it is to sell and ship speakers!

If you want to find something you will be happy with, search your soul and your bank account and ascertain the most you can responsibly spend. Then double it. That should come out about right, IMO.