How do you determine how much to spend on speakers

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.

Spend BIG BUCKS!!!!!

It should NEVER be a matter of money but a matter of preference and synergy.

Let me give you a real life example:

I'm fortunate enough to be friends with Larry who owns Hollywood Sound (Hollywood FL.) and sometimes we spend countless hours listening to music experimenting with all kinds of analog configurations.

To our ears, the unassuming Spiral Groove Canalis Anima ($3,250.00) driven by top of the line Rogue (Hera II/Apollo/Ares) sounded MUCH better that the likes of Aurumm Cantus Grand Supreme ($18,000.00), Sonics Allegria ($15,000.00), and Rega's RS-10s ($13,000.00).

Analog set ups:
Nottingham Dais
Townshend Rock 7
Well Tempered Amadeus GTA

Carts:
Lyra Etna and Kleos

If you listen to primarily rock music, don't get a set of speakers with ultra high detail resolution and spend the rest of your hobby time and savings tweaking with cables, amps and room treatments to soften the edge. Don't let your equipment change your music tastes.