2. misc-audio
  3. 187913-20253

It's attention, not money, we should budget

I read with some amusement a lot of posts arguing we should spend X amount of money on speakers, or preamps or amps.  I want to make a counter argument:  We should budget our time and attention, not the money.

In large part because there are always bargains to be made, and MSRP has been (IMHO) a terrible guide to what an "upgrade" is, especially when considered in the context of an existing system.

30% Room

30% Speakers

5% Cables and power

35% Remaining electronics

 

I will read your replies thoughtfully. :)

erik_squires
helomech
1,521 posts
 

1) Speakers and room

2) Speakers and room

3) amplification 

4) cleaning out the ear wax.

 

 

 

 

….everything else.

 

 

 

jimf421
42 posts
 

I agree....there is very little correlation between price and performance and clearly speakers make by far the largest difference, followed by the quality of the recording and then the other electronics.

pickindoug
43 posts
 

As others have said, the choice of speakers matters the most, regardless of relative cost to the whole.  Buying used high end gear at a reasonable fraction of MSRP can change the relative cost/investment proportions quite a bit.  It can take a bit of time to vet the upstream electronics, but once you settle that, it's all about the music.  

More to discover