2. amps-preamps
  3. 1427682253

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 2 responses by xerotrace

xerotrace OP
30 posts
 
Great points!

Mlauner: when you say sources does that mean CD player and turntable? Would anything else be included in that (like a DAC)?
xerotrace OP
30 posts
 
In researching the importance of the wire component I came across this article. It seems very scientific and objective but it goes agains what I have traditionally been told about how important the relay component of a system is. I am still learning but the author (former McIntosh engineer) makes a good case that when it comes to cabling the value has more to do with making sure the gauge is appropriate for the distance and everything else is hype or marketing to sell expensive cables. From everyone's experience is this correct? Here is the article:

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm
More to discover