So, about 1/2 on speakers, then work out the rest from there.
Is there a magic formula for spending on components in a system
I'm looking for opinions on the magic formula for purchasing components base on catergories:
Source or sources
Control
Amplification
Sound Transmission
Interconnection and Cabling
Setup and storage
Thoughts? Opinions? Your system "equation" ?
PS: which of the above is the most important block in the wall?
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- 53 posts total
I had such a clever response nearly completed when I left the page and lost it all. Now I must to condense the wisdom. Prepare yourself. If you had $10k to spend, ( I'd suggest seeking financing for an $10k. haha-joke). I will preface my remarks with full disclosure that you are reading a recommendation by someone who is enjoying his 2nd double of Jethro T. Boots Kentucky Whiskey. CVS $8.99. Really tastes about the same as the $80 Japanese whiskey I had last week. As the acknowledged weakest link in audio is the speakers, you start there. Spend 6-12 months investigating what you want. Find what you like. Not what somebody else likes. $4k is the max you spend here. Leaves $6k. I am pretty good at math. Then you will know what type and how much power you need. Your two brands to choose from are: Pass Labs and Line Magnetic. If your speakers require massive power then I will offer a 3rd choice for amplification. Magtech by Sanders. You buy everything used. From the original owner. Under 1 year old. For a source-Stream with your own computer. Hardwire ethernet to your DAC to your router. Buy a Preamp/Dac combo for $1k. $5k left. Pay $700 for a lifetime subscription to Roon. $4,300 left. Hire an electrician to install 2 dedicated runs to your HiFi. The cost of this will vary. Include the ethernet line. I did it for $350 at my house. Likely you will spend $1k. $3,300 left. Cables.com. Buy used interconnects. Buy Kimber cables. Budget $1k. $2,300 left. Buy 6 each 2' x 4' absorbing panels. Cost $60 each if you buy new or $30 each if you make them. If you have a hard surface floor get an area rug. Deal with windows with drapes. Cost $500. $1,800 remaining. If you have LPs, buy a used Rega TT and a Schiit audio Phono stage. End of original $10k. That's all folks!! |
Yes. Spend $nil on CD player. Don't be a cable chump. Don't allocate much to cables until system spend gets to $10k. Cables can never add as much as active components at this level. Don't buy used cables, they deteriorate over time. Yes. If you don't have $30k for power amplifiers, choose high-efficiency speakers. 1970s Linn formula: Budget $n. Spend $0.8n on Linn front end. Leaves $0.2n for the rest of the system. |
Don’t know if it’s magic but here is where mine ended up. Virtual system posted here. System Budget (% based on retail) Source(cart, tt, phono pre) - 24% Pre-amp, amp - 33% Speakers - 28% Cables, ICs, power condition - 15% Did not include CD player and DAC as I am at least 95% vinyl and those were relatively small expenditures. Everything acquired over several years, new and used. Decisions were made on affordability of individual components, not a specific, overall system budget to start with. Percentages do not include a backup pre-amp, power amp, or cartridge, or NOS tubes. The general plan was to build a nice system over time, upgrading and enjoying music, selling existing components to afford new ones. This is how it ended up. For now. It is a journey. Have fun! |
- 53 posts total