Cost break down of hifi system


Hello, just curious on what you guys recommend for the cost breakdown of a hifi system ? I have heard a lot about 15%-20% for cables and roughly 30% on speakers. Right now I am in the middle of building my new system. I currently have pass labs xp-12 demo model and an x250.8 NIB from Reno Hifi. I got a hell of a deal at $13500 for both. I also got a very light demo pair of Dynaudio contour 60i for 25% off. Based off what I have given, could you guys give me a breakdown on what I should spend on source and cables ? I was leaning at the Cardas cyngus cables. For dacs I was looking at the all in one lumin t3 or an aurender n200 with the chord qutest dac. I am also debating which audioquest niagra to get, the 1200 or 3000 ? Seems the me the 1200 does everything.  I’m open to suggestions so please tell me if I am off track. I wanna get it right the first time. 

shtr74sims

I found that I keep speakers longer than anything else.  So I would invest in a pair of speaker you really like even if you can't afford the level of electronics and cabling to support.  Buy the best used electronics you can with the remaining cash.  You will most likely begin upgrading as your learn about your speakers and room.  For me, cables are the last thing to really spend on.  Don't get me wrong cables can move your sound in a lot of directions but you can buy pretty good cables also on the used market until you really know what you are looking for.  Resale is potential is probably more important than specific items at your budget while you figure out what you really want.  

2 Dedicated 20A circuits, and audiophile power receptacles (Cardas, PS Audio, Furutech, Oyaide)

Solid DAC (Denafrips Pontus II, Holo Audio Spring 3 or May DAC)

Great value interconnect cables (Morrow Audio, Cullen Cables, Lavri Cables, DH Labs)

Great value signal cables USB, Ethernet, I2S HDMI: Supra Cables, Wireworld, Audioquest, Oyaide, DH Labs

Great components that will leave plenty of money for the streamer of your choice

If you need a CD transport (no DAC) Audiolab 6000CDT, amazing transport for $600

As others mentioned, It its worth mocking up the system and getting it up/running even if you have to try some loaner library cables from TheCableCo. If you plan to keep the XP12 longer term, while the Cardas Cygnus is not end-game for some Pass amp owners, you could do a lot worse if you must buy cables now. With your current investment, I’d do loaners, and listen for a while. Get a first baseline. Those DA-C 60i speakers have the separate mid and soft dome tweeter, so results really depends on what kind of room your are putting this in, are there soft or hard floors, hard walls, furniture all around or no furniture, reflections?, etc.

Some sources/DACs can be a crapshoot, and can be totally overrated, too costly, imo. Do you have anyone near you to borrow, or buy on on 60-day return policy. What if the system sounds too bright or too soft. Likely more bright with that preamp/amp pairing, however those speakers will soften it some You need that first baseline test to start from - - to figure out where things are "at". Same others are recommending above, otherwise you can get stuck with some stuff you may not want to keep if you go big-bang-all-at-once. Or, unless you want to over spend a lot more $... Reno HiFi knows of the proven stuff and you’ll pay notably more for it.