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Is there a magic formula for spending on components in a system

Hello to all...

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? 
insearchofprat
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
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.
asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,327 posts
 
Ideally....the GDP....

On a practical level....what you can rationally spend...;)
moofoo
289 posts
 

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! 


arro222
142 posts
 
No...not in relation to components. There are some who would say if you spent say 20K on components, you should get at least $5000 worth of speakers. As if to say no speaker is worthy under that. Nothing could be further from actual as opposed to perceived truth.
The only formula (and there is no magic about it) is your satisfaction.
The trouble with all this audiophile stuff... people seem to be afraid to be satisfied thinking there is always something better.

Now that can be thought of as "magic" if one believes that beneath your component table lies the sirens of dastardly temptation beckoning and beckoning with the song in the winds of "you need to spend more money"
ebm
9,311 posts
 
I have the magic formula will list ASAP!!
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