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Which area of components to spend the most $ on? Boy I was wrong all my life!

I have been an audio junkie for about 25 years. All those years, I have read plenty of discussion posts and recommendations where to spend the most money on. The majority, even the experts recommend to spend the most money on speakers. Up to as high as 60% of the total budget.Example: CEO of PS Audio-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwL7vPkPhg
I believed this all my life. Today, my eyes are opened. My total budget is about $15K.Before today, my system was:Speakers-Revel F36 Concerta 2 (For the money, this is the best speakers I’ve heard. I like it more than my previous Dynaudio Contour 30)Integrated Amp-Marantz PM-10 (Class D, balanced, 400wpc at 4ohms)CD Player-Oppo UDP 205 & Marantz CD 6005 (Some of the best in class)Line conditioner-Furman Elite PFi 15Cables-Kimber 8TC Speaker Cables (Sorry, not a cable nut. I’d rather spend money elsewhere)
I upgraded my front end CD player to... Marantz SA-11S3. I was BLOWN away! This is the greatest upgrade I have ever heard in my life. For 25 years, I was taught to spend the most in speakers. Sorry! It’s the FRONT END! The best source you can afford. The purity transcends down the river. I am blown away by the sheer improvement in detail, clarity, depth, the air around the instruments.
My philosophy has changed.
skimrn
joefama
60 posts
 
Everything matters when building a state of the art Hi-End Stereo system. Technology is great, meaning iPads, iPhones and streaming devices for general background music. But when it comes to Listening, put a Marantz SA-11S3 in the system and you’ll Hear what I mean. Takes digital to the best it can be and in my opinion better and more lively sound than analog setups.

the Marantz SA-11S3 player is the best sounding machine I’ve owned regardless of any price. And I have owned many great ones including the $20,000 Esoteric player, etc.
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inna
7,141 posts
 
I am afraid, digital has to be quite expensive to sound acceptable, what you did you simply took it close to that.
Many good points - recording, room, level the system already at, synergy. I no longer think in terms of upgrades, I am not going to upgrade anything in my current set up, I am going to build a new system over the years, so in this sense it is going to be in a state of flux for some time but it will still be sounding better while in the process. I think, I know the destination, where I want to be with my new system, the rest are minor details. Still, if you intend to keep them for long - speakers first, then either power amp or source, both is better.
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hk_fan
416 posts
 
"For 25 years, I was taught to spend the most in speakers. Sorry! It’s the FRONT END! The best source you can afford. The purity transcends down the river."

Amen - I agree 100% with this.
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