Proportional Allocation to Total System

Sorry I'm not much of one for percentages, but I'll give you my general opinion. The source is primary[it's first after all]. Pre/power combo is important, but not as important as the speakers. You need good cabling but no need to spend vast amounts, as most designs are limited by conductor geometry. The new Analysis Plus speaker cables out perform many more expensive types due to their unique hollow oval geometry. As for others, it depends on the level of your system. Power conditioners and assorted tweeks can make real contributions to a revealling system, but you need the basics right first. Good stands should not be considered optional- good acoustic isolation is essential to hear what your components are capable of.

I never did like numbers. But I advocate spending roughly equivalent amounts on source, amp, speakers until you are spending more than say $10k, and above $10k I would allow a greater weighting towards speakers. I am ignoring the preamp because the best amount to spend there is $0 - if you get what I mean. I make the point regarding the $10k limit because spending less than $3k on either source or amp is likely to get you something that a very revealing speaker is going to expose - to the detriment of long term listening enjoyment. There will be exceptions to this of course. How much to spend on the rest - interconnect, speaker cable, power cords, vibration control and room treatment - also depends on the value of the system, and is not a fixed percentage. On average I would advocate around 20%. I find the question concerning what is the most important component difficult to answer. It is a bit like asking which of your bodily organs is the most important. While both questions are answerable, the most relevant answer is that all of them need to be up to the task or it isn't going to work as well as it should. I find the points above on speaker cable and vibration isolation very easy to agree with. I often hear that speakers are the most important. I agree that this will always appear to be so in response to a brief listen. But I think the effect of long-term listening to poor electronics is underestimated. From one speaker to the next there can be dramatic differences in the performance envelope. But within the performance envelope of any speaker, the differences between electronics, while at first subtle, can be critical to long term musical enjoyment. Most speakers can be made to sound musical with appropriate electronics. Poor electronics can never be saved by a great speaker - they can only be masked by a poor one.

1- 7500 2-11% 3-14% 4-17% 5-7% 6-6% 7-36% 8-8% This is how currently it breaks down. As you have found my experience with speaker cables outweights interconnect changes case in point I went higher (it was first) upgrading interconnects and the differences were subtle, speaker cable did a major difference. In general we´re close with my heaviest investment at present in speakers. My source is for upgrading when digital format dust settles up and my amp is next. Besides the breakdown I agree with turntablemind on basics right i.e. power grounding and specially vibration control on components, this set up variables have been very important in improving total chain quality output that currently I have a match in general to friends systems costing much more. Regards