How do you determine how much to spend on speakers

there is no rule of thumb. if you like the speakers and can afford them, you buy them.

given a budget constraint, buy the speakers first. sacrafice on the elctronics and thenm at some point, upgrade the electronics.

for example. let's say you have a $3000. budget.

buy a "cheap" dvd player and receiver and inexpensive cables, and save the rest for the speakers.

you may not get great sound, but you will presumably buy the speakers you want and will hold onto them for a while.

hi inwanw:

i own 1.6s. there have been threads regarding this speaker. i will be brief. room size and spl will determine power requirement. i have a 30 watt amp and a 120 watt amp. i use both and have no problems. leave space between speaker and rear wall. at least 4 feet is advisable. ironically, i am looking to replace my 1.6s because of the tweeter. it's too hot, even with a tube amp.

this thread is relevant to me, as i am shopping for a speaker. i am considering only panel speakers.

they can be pricey, i.e., more than $7000, retail.
it makes no sense to have a budget constrain me from findinga speaker which i prefer over the magnepan. there are so few speakers i like, period.

i would say, out of the totality of current production speakers, i like or would own, no more than about 7.

thus, for me, i have an upper limit of $20,000, which shouldn't be a problem. if i were less fussy, it would be easier to find a speaker under $10,000. i have received several suggestions but invariably they are cone-based speakers, which, in general are annoying after some period of time.