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Which area of components to spend the most $ on? Boy I was wrong all my life!

I have been an audio junkie for about 25 years. All those years, I have read plenty of discussion posts and recommendations where to spend the most money on. The majority, even the experts recommend to spend the most money on speakers. Up to as high as 60% of the total budget.Example: CEO of PS Audio-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwL7vPkPhg
I believed this all my life. Today, my eyes are opened. My total budget is about $15K.Before today, my system was:Speakers-Revel F36 Concerta 2 (For the money, this is the best speakers I’ve heard. I like it more than my previous Dynaudio Contour 30)Integrated Amp-Marantz PM-10 (Class D, balanced, 400wpc at 4ohms)CD Player-Oppo UDP 205 & Marantz CD 6005 (Some of the best in class)Line conditioner-Furman Elite PFi 15Cables-Kimber 8TC Speaker Cables (Sorry, not a cable nut. I’d rather spend money elsewhere)
I upgraded my front end CD player to... Marantz SA-11S3. I was BLOWN away! This is the greatest upgrade I have ever heard in my life. For 25 years, I was taught to spend the most in speakers. Sorry! It’s the FRONT END! The best source you can afford. The purity transcends down the river. I am blown away by the sheer improvement in detail, clarity, depth, the air around the instruments.
My philosophy has changed.
skimrn
magneto340
3 posts
 
That was Linn's theory for as long as I can remember. I recently unpacked some speakers I had in storage for 20 years. I put a new Anthem front end for decoding on them and must say I agree. It all starts from the source.
sifter
72 posts
 
Yeah, I'm no maven, sorry, but 10 posts and big free shill for Marantz... Best anecdotal advertising money can buy.
michaelivosevic
3 posts
 
Ask yourself, what factors in my listening environment remain constant regardless of any component changes you may make in the future. The answer is probably the power coming from your wall and the room itself. If we provide appropriate power (components can be fussy) and improve the cleanliness of our A/C, we can make any component sound better. The influence a room makes is well known, so why do we think putting the horse before the cart is the logical procedure. 
schmoedoctor
1 posts
 
One of the most important considerations is the length of time your investment will be retained is can be considered with respect to changing technology. 

 For these reasons I feel that the most significant investments should be placed initially on speakers and amplification as these technologies are not as   Quickly evolving.

Cables also make respect to investments. For digital front end I would then get the best possible however always keeping consideration the fact that I will probably upgrade at some point
axo0oxa
98 posts
 
Where to put your money is always important to consider when you first set up a higher end system, however once your first "true" higher end system has been purchased and and balanced properly based on budget then the merry-go-round starts for many and the notion of front end vs. speakers or any other components does not fall into a tight set of rules. If your budget was high enough initially then the front end might be sufficiently high to warrant the next upgrade being the speakers or if you bought an integrated amplifier you might want to then purchase an amplifier and preamplifier, so after that first initial "big" investment you made in your first stab at creating your first true high end system then you go with what you perceive would be the smartest next step in moving into the merry-go-round phase of upgrading.
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