How close was your starting budget to the final bu

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I thought I'd be able to to do it for about $2k. I was wrong but I was satisfied with the end result.
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Well the last system I put together was for my home office... started from a forum post about a deal for a $400 speaker... cost so far? About $10k.

Off by at least 1 decimal place, but also includes 2-channel.

I have always "budgeted" (a VERY relative word) in relation to individual components as opposed to "system". Warning - this method can easily lead to "money-pit-itis", the more costly cousin of "audio nervosa" and for which there is no known cure.

People who know me also think I'm crazy for what I've put into my system, until they hear it. Then they think I'm only 1/2 crazy. My non-audiophile friends reluctantly admit my system is "better than Bose"; the audiophiles just smile....

My budget was $5000 for new equipment (integrated amp,cdp,speakers,ic and speaker cables) After researching on the web for months I decided to buy used.Finding Audiogon was my "ace in the hole".I now have over $9000 worth of equipment that I paid $3800 for!!!! Everything I bought was in excellent condition. I am,as the saying goes,a happy camper.

Amen to the comment about Audiogon - my $14.7k (list) stereo cost me $7.7k and most of my electronics were demo units from authorized retailers or new and highly discounted. I could never have afforded my system at list prices.

And as for the OP's question - my $5k budget was blown long ago.