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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
kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
263 posts
 
Spending $3k on outlets may be a reasonable expense for somebody that has speakers that cost $10k or more. Once you get to that level, $3k increase in the cost of speakers will likely be a marginal improvement. If, however, you have $2.5k speakers like me, adding $3k to the speaker budget will have a much more profound impact on the sound than spending the same $3k to upgrade your outlets.
Everything is on a bell curve. Everything.
avhifidelity
45 posts
 
I own the Marantz SA11-S3 for my main system.  Best CD player I've owned.  It replaced my SA11-S2 which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Almost sold the SA11-S2, until one day decided to compare it to my PS Audio Perfectwave CD transport which was hooked up to my Perfectwave DAC MKII in a second system.   One song later, took out the PS Audio CD transport and put it up for sale, and kept the SA11-S2 in the second system.  Proud owner of two awesome Marantz Reference CD players.
skimrn OP
13 posts
 
I totally agree with you.  In my 25 years of audio upgrades and changes, my Marantz SA-11S3 too was the biggest upgrade that I have ever heard.  It is built like a tank and the sound.  Truly amazing!Due to this thread, I had a scenario in my mind.  What would like better?
  • $500 CD player on the $10,000 speakers vs
  • $10,000 CD player on the $500 speakers.
Now that's an experiment!
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skimrn OP
13 posts
 
Hey all,
So I did some potential final upgrades of my system.  I sold my beloved Revel F36 Concerta2 Speakers and bought F228Be Speakers.  Wham!  Another giant leap of sound improvement. 
Now I can't tell if the SA11S3 or the Revel F228Be was the better jump since they are both insanely big jumps for me!Now I am shooting for the Marantz SA-10 CD Player.  I know Elizabeth here has one.  I heard great reviews about it.
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