I've taken this same approach for years only with a slightly different breakdown. Speakers, amp, source, wire and tweaks or accessories are the categories I use as they encompass the system completely. When done this way they are all equal and work for any budget.
At the low end speakers are two. Until the budget increases enough to add a DBA.
Amp almost always is an integrated, until the budget gets sky high enough for separates.
Source is for one. Adding multiple sources you have to choose, spend less on everything or additional per source.
Wire is cables, until the budget increases enough for a conditioner to make sense.
Tweaks and accessories. This is the big one. Vast majority have not caught on to just how effective the right ones can be.
That's the five. 20% each.
Now the exceptions. Budgets aren't like most people think, something OCD anal tightwads do. Budgets are to guide and filter. The guide is it makes you realize oh yeah I really do need to give equal attention to the wire as the amp. The filter is it keeps you from wasting time looking at or worse buying stuff you can't afford. Budgeting isn't a straight jacket. Its a tool.
So like we have some guy right now looking at a budget system. If it was a one-off then it would be 20% across the board. But he plans on building over time. He has speakers and amp he knows he likes. They are way out of his budget. So he gets them, and cheats out on the rest, knowing it'll catch up later.
That's the way to use a budget.
At the low end speakers are two. Until the budget increases enough to add a DBA.
Amp almost always is an integrated, until the budget gets sky high enough for separates.
Source is for one. Adding multiple sources you have to choose, spend less on everything or additional per source.
Wire is cables, until the budget increases enough for a conditioner to make sense.
Tweaks and accessories. This is the big one. Vast majority have not caught on to just how effective the right ones can be.
That's the five. 20% each.
Now the exceptions. Budgets aren't like most people think, something OCD anal tightwads do. Budgets are to guide and filter. The guide is it makes you realize oh yeah I really do need to give equal attention to the wire as the amp. The filter is it keeps you from wasting time looking at or worse buying stuff you can't afford. Budgeting isn't a straight jacket. Its a tool.
So like we have some guy right now looking at a budget system. If it was a one-off then it would be 20% across the board. But he plans on building over time. He has speakers and amp he knows he likes. They are way out of his budget. So he gets them, and cheats out on the rest, knowing it'll catch up later.
That's the way to use a budget.