The question you are asking really only pertains to one and done- and even then more as a guide. Because far too many people make the mistake of thinking in terms of speakers and amp, forgetting all the other equally essential components.
When building a system starting from zero and for someone who really just wants to be done and happy, then the best approach is to budget equal amounts. Because, contrary to what you seem to think, every component is equally important. Since the components are something like source, amp, speakers, and wire/tweaks/accessories its an easy 25% each. This works great as long as you realize that as the budget increases you are able to expand tweaks/accessories to include things like power conditioners.
But while that was your question its probably not what you meant. It makes no sense for the typical guy with an existing system to think this way. Especially not if he has long term plans of continual improvement. In that case it makes more sense to look critically at each component in light of the whole system and those long term plans. This may mean at some point going much further with one or more than would make sense for one and done.
My system for example has an analog front end that if priced in terms of new equivalent would be greater than everything but the tweaks. Yes the tweaks add up to more than the amp. More than the speakers. More than everything except the analog front end. The tone arm alone cost more than the speakers I just bought. Which cost less than the speakers that came before. Which is why talk of proportions makes little sense except in the case of one and done. And even then taken not to be taken literally.
When building a system starting from zero and for someone who really just wants to be done and happy, then the best approach is to budget equal amounts. Because, contrary to what you seem to think, every component is equally important. Since the components are something like source, amp, speakers, and wire/tweaks/accessories its an easy 25% each. This works great as long as you realize that as the budget increases you are able to expand tweaks/accessories to include things like power conditioners.
But while that was your question its probably not what you meant. It makes no sense for the typical guy with an existing system to think this way. Especially not if he has long term plans of continual improvement. In that case it makes more sense to look critically at each component in light of the whole system and those long term plans. This may mean at some point going much further with one or more than would make sense for one and done.
My system for example has an analog front end that if priced in terms of new equivalent would be greater than everything but the tweaks. Yes the tweaks add up to more than the amp. More than the speakers. More than everything except the analog front end. The tone arm alone cost more than the speakers I just bought. Which cost less than the speakers that came before. Which is why talk of proportions makes little sense except in the case of one and done. And even then taken not to be taken literally.