Okay so first you need to broaden his expectations, because that is not gonna do it. What he needs for $1500 is speakers, integrated amp, CD player, two power cords, one interconnect, and speaker cables.
He should then budget about $300 for each. He could spend about $500 each on the three things he thinks he needs. This is where you explain to him how the quality he is paying for winds up being wasted when run through lamp cord and patch cords and freebie power cords. Better yet do a demo and let him hear the difference.
Another thing to explain, there is a difference between putting together a budget system that is one and done. In other words when the person is sure they will not be doing any upgrades ever no matter what. In that case you budget equally like I said because you get the best results when each and every component is balanced to have no weak link.
But if on the other hand this is a starter system and he'll be upgrading then you do things a little different. In that case if you find a deal on something a lot better, and it could be anything even a power cord or speaker cable, then you go for it with the understanding its a keeper while the rest is temporary. So in that case he might decide to get only the three components and accept the crap sound he is gonna get until he can upgrade to some decent cables.
Both approaches work. Something I know from having done exactly what you're doing. Don't sell your friend short. Explain and show him the importance of wire.
He should then budget about $300 for each. He could spend about $500 each on the three things he thinks he needs. This is where you explain to him how the quality he is paying for winds up being wasted when run through lamp cord and patch cords and freebie power cords. Better yet do a demo and let him hear the difference.
Another thing to explain, there is a difference between putting together a budget system that is one and done. In other words when the person is sure they will not be doing any upgrades ever no matter what. In that case you budget equally like I said because you get the best results when each and every component is balanced to have no weak link.
But if on the other hand this is a starter system and he'll be upgrading then you do things a little different. In that case if you find a deal on something a lot better, and it could be anything even a power cord or speaker cable, then you go for it with the understanding its a keeper while the rest is temporary. So in that case he might decide to get only the three components and accept the crap sound he is gonna get until he can upgrade to some decent cables.
Both approaches work. Something I know from having done exactly what you're doing. Don't sell your friend short. Explain and show him the importance of wire.