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How to divide a budget between components

Hello All,

I recently read through an interesting thread on AG in the speaker section on the best way to allocate one's budget for a system (the consensus was to put about half towards the speakers and the remainder towards everything else).

So on that note, what is the best way to allocate one's non-speaker budget? There seems to be a growing number of improved components to buy that are supposed to make a big difference. Where would a person's money be best spent? Below are some items to possibly consider for a components budget. For this example, the components budget would be $10K (keeps the math easy) and the speakers would be worth around $15k. I know the allocation would vary on more factors (such as music preference, digital vs analogue focus, etc) but I'm wondering as a general overall rule what has worked best?

Amplifier
Pre-amp
Turn table
Turn table cartridge
CD player
DAC
Surge protection
Speaker cables
Power cables
Equipment racks/tables
Room treatments
(Are there any I missed?)
xerotrace

Showing 5 responses by paraneer

paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 
For $10k
Turntable 2000
Arm 10000
cartridge 1000
phono amp 2500
monoblocks 1500
speakers 1500
cables,stands, CD player etc. 500

65% of budget dedicated to the vinyl source? That what I call Linn Philosophy at its best!
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 
In my opinion the best sounding systems are those where every component works well with all others and no real weak link can be identified. This is also known as synergy.

And its also been my experience that to assign percentages from a total budget on what each component should be allocated doesn't work to achieve this synergy. Match specs and performance - not dollars.

I drive a $2200 pair of speakers with a $2500 amp and couldn't be happier after trying many other combos using the so-called allocation recommendations.

Its all about how it sounds brother, not what it costs!
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 
Paraneer, Linn philosophy or not, if you are going to use a vinyl source, it is wisest to spend as much retrieving as much information from the source as possible. Otherwise, you run the risk of spending lots of money trying to tune the rig with silly priced cables.
Never said anything about silly priced cables. What always amused me about the Linn philosophy is to feed such a pristine signal from an overpriced analog front end only to have it degraded by going through subpar amps and speakers.

Again, its about proper balance to achieve system synergy. And to do this, one must identify the weak link. It would be pretty easy to identify the weak link in a system feeding a signal from a $6500 vinyl source into a pair of $1500 speakers. But were all entitled to our opinions and if this works for you, that's great! Enjoy the music brother!
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 
Is that all they cost? I thought they were a lot more. Oh well, if you want to dedicate 65% toward the source and only 15% for the speakers, that's your right man. I would just caution others on the same. Have a great day
paraneer's avatar
paraneer
818 posts
 
Used. Paraneer. But... why settle for less by compromising by not being able to afford new kit?
Thanks Noromance. This is what I suspected; you bought used. It is also proves my point why assigning percentages to allocate funds per component doesn't work...
Are we talking New equipment vs. Old?
Are we talking MSRP of New vs. Closeout/Discount Price of the same New?
Are we talking about a mix of all the above?
In reality, I'll bet your analog front isn't really 65% of your total system cost if you were to compare apples to apples. Yet you recommended the same. Its simply what you paid.
I rest my case. Have a good one brother!
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