2. misc-audio
  3. 168358-1635

And My Budget Is...

Almost always, when someone asks for a component recommendation, they always finish with "and my budget is $X". And I'm wondering how they arrived at that figure.  Now I'm not encouraging frivolous spending by any means and I would never make a purchase that is not financially responsible, so stop right there.  But maybe setting an arbitrary budget is not the way to do it. Back in 2004 when I re-entered high-end audio after a hiatus from the 80's, I went to audition a Naim CD player at a dealer in NYC.  At that time "and my budget is" was $1500, which to me was a lot of money for a CD player.  So I listened to the $1500 player and it was good, but nothing to get excited about.  When I expressed this to the dealer, he smiled and installed the $3000 model.  Well, I could not believe the difference. I had never heard a CD sound that way.  The realism of the whole experience just transported me to another level and I purchased it on the spot.  Yes, I did think it was expensive, but I shifted my priorities around after listening and said that the extra money was worth it to me and that I would restructure my budget in other areas to make up the difference.  So what I am saying is - rather than just setting a budget of X, maybe the better way is to listen to something you really love, that is not ridiculously out of your price range and then decide whether the difference is worth it to you. I would think that most everyone here spends more on audio than the average person would believe possible and many could stretch from that $1000 dac they say they want to that $5000 dac they love if they really wanted to. When my wife passed almost 7 years ago, I thought my life was over, but as I pulled myself out of the pit and built my life back up, I started living by this principle: Treat yourself responsibly well. Responsibly well.  And I think you should too.  Be healthy. 
chayro
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,753 posts
 
Good thoughts chayro. I agree, and within the limits of what it's possible for me to spend, I always leave the door open for spending more if it's warranted. I have always believed in the old saying about never regretting that you bought the best.
middlemass
902 posts
 
+3...great post, chayro.
cissado
113 posts
 
I agree with getting what you like off the bat instead of incremental increases in price and quality.  If the op had purchased that $1500 CD player,  then sold it for 1000 to buy a 2200 cd player, then sold that for 1800 or who knows 1000 dollars, then ultimately purchased the 3000 player, he would have spent a lot more money than just doing it in the beginning. 
Of course, if you don't have the money, then all bets are off, but if you just have to rebudget a couple if things, imo it's worth it. It's also a hassle for lazy people like me to sell stuff. 

You still need a budget, then go up or down from there. OP was shown a 3000 player but not a 20,000 player. Let's not waste everyone's time and start somewhere in the ballpark.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45
4,838 posts
 
@chayro  Your advice makes a lot of sense because of the way you set up the solution you provide. In your example, there are two options, (a) being open to spend more if the quality is there or, (b) "But maybe setting an arbitrary budget is not the way to do it."

There could be other ways people set their budget -- e.g. with some information and reasonable reflection. 

In your CD example, you went in with a $1500 expectation and left the store spending double. On the face of it, that seems ill advised, especially for someone who might also want to buy other components. It will, however, make dealers smile.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Honestly can't say that I ever set a budget and then went looking. From the time I was a little kid with a paper route I would save my money all the while looking around at all the ways the other kids were spending theirs. Which seeing what they got encouraged me to keep saving and looking. 

This was way before the internet and so my "looking" involved hours and hours hands on touching twisting knobs moving speakers around listening and asking questions. By the time I was satisfied I knew enough to make a purchase there was way more money set aside for it than needed.

Back then, 1974, it was something like $168 at Radio Shack. In all that time nothing really has ever changed. When my listening room remodel was done nearly 30 years ago I "thought" it would be for a home theater. Because of my incessant research however it wound up being stereo with video, an infinitely better solution than home theater. All because of my budget that is not a budget but is more a question, "What is the best use of my limited resources?"
More to discover