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Love is about $100 for 15 minutes, happiness is a bit more.
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An affixed price on Love or Happiness cannot be set. |
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No, you accepted the answer you wanted to hear, some said 10%, some gave other amounts, some gave a dollar limit.
If you think 10% is a good answer then more power to you but IMHO and others it is a worthless piece of information.
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I recommend the PS Audio Perfect Wav system. Hi rez memory player DAC combo ($6K). For an additional $800, you can buy the music server piece for the DAC. For best sound I recommend a turntable setup, but that will cost you much more when you consider a good table, arm, cart, phono-stage and records of course. I use the Perfect Wav for my occasional digital playback. Hard to beat that combo for the money, imo. |
Some of the folks here just answer exactly what I am asking, especially the recent post of MAPMAN, its around 10%. I am not going to use it as a limit, but I just want to know what is happening in others situation.
My CDP is SIMAUDIO CD 5.3x as some of you were asking. I am not sure how good it is, I haven't change to other cdp since I put up my systems 3 years ago.
My gears total up $29000 retail excluding cables ICs, and power conditioners.
Welcome and look forward to more post of your spending experience......
p.s. I may start a new thread to consult all experience fellows if I want advises for solving my system issue. |
Personally, I would never spend more than about $2000.00 for a new CD player, no matter how good the rest of my system is (I assume you are using cost as a proxy for quality -- always a risky assumption in this hobby). I've had any number of CD/SACD players (I bought my first CD player in 1984 or 85, I'm not sure which, at the "breakthrough" price of $400.00), with purchase prices all over the map. My experience has been that once you pass $1500/$2000 MSRP, the incremental increase in reproduction quality is so ephemeral, and subjective, that it doesn't justify the expense. I wouldn't be too surprised to find that we have folks with $40K systems out there that are happily tooling along with $700 or $800 CD players.
YMMV |
Survey:
"how much will you invest in CD player with that sum?"
Answer:
As much as it takes so that I enjoy listening to the music thru it. It so happens that at this time, it's around 10%.
I would consider it foolish to limit myself to a certain % of say, at or about xx%. I once put an extra system together a few yrs ago that paired a $900 2a3 SET integrated with a pair of %550 single driver speakers. Those are "msrp" prices, not street or used. The CD player was $3000. That works out to 200%. I really enjoyed it. I doubt I would have with a $150 (10%) player. |
Excluding speaker cables, ICs, and power conditioners et al, I have three systems that meet your criteria. For the CDP in each, the cost percentages are 8.2 %, 11.4 %, and 22.1 %. Figures are based on retail costs for new gear and what I actually paid for vintage gear. The CDPs were all purchased new; two of them are current models. |
. I see you just don't get it. Trying to peg a percentage to a component is an exercise in futility. As far as retail my system is probably 60% speaker, 15% amp. 15% turntable/cartridge, and 10% digital source/preamp. How did that help you? I was trying to answer what you initially posted and the only way to even begin to help is if we know what you have .... I have been wondering my CD section is the weakest link,. good luck . |
Find a pair of speakers that knock your socks off and then an amp that matches well.
After that, it's downhill all the way.
IMO |
I'd estimate my main system (digital source included only) cost about 15-17K retail.
The cost to me was about 8-9K.
My main digital source is computer music server, DAC, + Squeezebox Touch, total cost ~ 1.6K with main and backup disk storage.
That's about 10% of total retail cost. |
In my case it is about 5%, (a Resolution Audio Opus 21, in case you're wondering).
However, you failed to tell us if this CD player is going to be your primary or secondary source, (or your sole source). If primary, you should probably spend a higher percentage. If secondary, then, (obviously), you should spend less than on your primary source.
(FYI: My primary source, my turntable/tonearm/cartridge, costs about 11% of my total costs.)
My two cents worth. |
"if your" system costs $40K, not mine, for a reference to start the topic with. It is retail, if it is USED, too many factors involved in pricing.
I said, I am not trying consult what to upgrade with, I know exactly what I should go for if money no object, but I wonder what fellows out there do, especially while money is a subject. For mentioning a reference point of $40k system, I was trying to narrow down to hear from a certain level of enthusiasts here. |
"What we got here is failure to communicate.
Some men you just can't reach":) |
Grand tech, you posted some prices. Is that retail or what you paid used. I think you would get better responses if you listed your actual components and what you are trying to achieve, what type of room you have and the size, what you value most in the sound, and what type of music you listen to. You ask us to take the time to share yet you divulge very little.
How can anyone determine your weakest link if we have no idea what you have? Why are you asking about $4OK when you only listed about $15K, and your whole approach is from the wrong angle. You need to build a system that fits your room and your tastes and your budget. An arbitrary % for a component just doesn't work.
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There was a thread on cabling %$ suggested. In other words, I should add up total cost of my components and choose whatever cable brand/model that costs closest to 10% ???? I give up!! |
Cd players are still selling. But if I were in your situation I'd consider putting it all on a "music server".
I bought a DCS stack of the previous generation for under 10K USED several years ago and that seems about what I'd spend if the rest of my system was 40K. Enjoy, the music. Peterh |
All good points above. The better, all the better. Don't compromise on your source. Choose one you will never let go of.
Buy once. Be patient. |
I am trying to conduct a survey here in order to give myself a reference how one with spend on a CDP vs the rest of his system.
Who is willing to share? I had posted mine earlier here. |
Simply put: research and more research what is available with your requirements. Decide on your "BEST", and patiently wait for a good example to come up here used...... and SNAP IT UP!! |
A system is only as good as the weakest link.
Most modern CD players are pretty good. You have to have a very well tuned system in other more problematic aspects first, especially in regards to amp/speaker/room/listening position integration.
Then you are in a good position to judge the value proposition of different CD players at different price points. |
Seems you are fooled into thinking $40K will get you a great system. I have experienced system in the $10K range that blew away $100K systems. With the right room, $10K will get you great sound. Talk to Jim Smith before you spend another dime. |
Actually I am not asking for advice of what CDP to go for.
I might need to clarify the purpose of this thread, how important is a CDP among all the items in your systems, in what ratio do you put your money into CDP vs SPEAKER, AMP.....
Thanks for reply anyway. |
If you have $40,000 to drop on a system, you have many choices for a good CD player. Try some well received ones and see. Buy used so you can sell and change without taking a loss. Start with the Cambridge Azur 840c (a very solid performer) and go from there.
The only thing else I would add is also consider going to a music server and DAC with possibly a network music player if needed if you are not uncomfortable with dealing with computers. OR maybe investigate integrated music server devices that target audio enthusiasts, but expect to pay a premium for teh extra convenience mainly. |
I did not devise a formula prior to building my system, it just came out this way. I do place importance on source. |
In other words, I would like to know most of you how important do you treat investing a CDP is among the whole system. Especially a ratio on SPEAKER : CDP, I know this is not scientific, but I just really wonder I am too far from average, my speaker $7500, my cdp is $2100. My pre-amp is $4100, my amp is $3500.
My idea is upgrade a CDP to get more analytical detail and extensions on the bottom, am I on a right direction or what? |
Tpreaves,
Yes, you are right. Say for example, $4000 for cdp, $36000 for others e.g. speaker, amp, pre, cables, etc. Thats spending 10% of whole system.
Isochronism,
Great form of reply, thanks! If you are able to state individual costs would be more informative, but may taking you too much time though. |
Verdier La Platine, Grandezza Reference arm
Nain CD555 PS555
Doshi Alaap & Wavelength 45 silver
Wavelength Cardinal 300b
Beauhorn Virtuoso
Magnum Dynalab 106T Signal Sleuth |
Order of expense payed for components. Most first:
TT and tonearm (no cartridge yet)
CDP
Preamp/phono & Pair of amps (close to same cost)
Another pair of amps
Speakers
Tuner
all bought used here |
You have a 40k system and you're asking someone else how much you should spend on a cdp? Am I reading this wrong or am I missing something here? |
