Easiest compromise for weakest link?

For me it would be power cords. I'm sure I'll get flamed, roasted, and toasted for this but what the hell.

My center channel, cables and amp. I can always turn it off and go phantom -I rarely lose much, and many times I actually gain by sending that signal through the mains.

For all but reference caliber systems you can scrimp on cables/interconnects/wire and not take too big a hit sonically. Going to a manufacturer's mid level offerings in wire can generate big cost savings with only a marginal loss of sound quality.

Nate, I'll assume you're just talking about two channel (since my son tells me it's always good to assume).

I would save the money on cables/power cords first, then downgrade the digital front end if further cuts were needed(Since everyone knows that Vinyl RULES!).

John