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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
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sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
@ivan_nosnibor Great post! 

It never ceases to amaze how we all prioritize and react differently to the same gear in the same room! That's why we all have to listen to as many different rigs, rooms etc. with music that you know well to overcome the huge challenge of wrapping your head around it and make conclusions that will best apply at home with your gear.

This has become one of the most interesting threads lately. Keep it coming! Cheers,
Spencer
cellphono's avatar
cellphono
1 posts
 
@sns @kahlenz 

+1 for synergy. 

You could spend  $10k+ on a boutique single-ended tube amp and have it sound awful with a pair of $50k speakers, but amazing with a pair of $300 diy ones.

If your components don’t cooperate properly, you’re throwing money down the wrong rabbit hole in any direction. 
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noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 
+1 @viridian 

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