[Bigfish]

Guys:

Over the past few months I have put together a 2 channel system and have had a lot of help from the members of this Circle. I am wondering what most of us spend, as a percentage of the total system, on the major components.  The major components being as follows:

1.  Speakers & Stands (if required) --

2.  Amp(s) -------------------------

3   Preamp -------------------------

4  Music Source (TT, CPP, Streaming
    Player to include DAC)-------------

5  Cords (PCs, ICs, SCs) ------------


My personal system's breakdown (so far) is as follows:

1.  Speakers & Stands (if required) --   29%

2.  Amp(s) -------------------------   28%

3   Preamp -------------------------   15%

4  Music Source (TT, CPP, Streaming
    Player to include DAC)------------   10% 

5  Cords (PCs, ICs, SCs) ------------   18%
 

Ken

[Toka]

18% is a lot for cords...pare that down a bit and put some money into room treatments and you'll be much better off in the long run (and the short run too). Its really hard to put percentages on things (too many options/variables), but I'm from the school that says speakers are the most important, so pick those first and build around that...though you don't necessarily have to spend the most on them.

[Bigfish]

18% is a lot for cords...pare that down a bit and put some money into room treatments and you'll be much better off in the long run (and the short run too). Its really hard to put percentages on things (too many options/variables), but I'm from the school that says speakers are the most important, so pick those first and build around that...though you don't necessarily have to spend the most on them.

So what are the percentages of your system costs when broken down as I itemized above?  I did not include room treatments in my list because every room will require different levels of treatments.  My percentages, noted above, are changing at least every month as I did not start this project until March of this year.

Ken

[Toka]

Hmmm...hard to say, as what I have now has been pieced together over the years, mostly bought used too (which really throws things off). I mean, if I got speakers that retailed for around $2K in 1985 and paid $100 for them, what do I use? But, considering the system I want to get (closer every day, though not close enough), I would end up actually spending more on the preamp than I would on the speakers, if that means anything (and I don't think it means all that much...you may arbitrarily spend more than you really need to for one component, which doesn't make the sum result any 'better'). Still, the speaker/room interaction is paramount (for me anyway), so iron that out and the rest tends to fall into place more often than not.

[timind]

At this point everything is used, most of it at very good bargain prices.

1.  Speakers, Stands & subwoofer ---   40%

2.  Amp Integrated------------------   20%

3   Preamp -------------------------   0%

4  Music Source (TT, CPP, Streaming
    Player to include DAC)------------   35%

5  Cords (PCs, ICs, SCs) ------------   05%

[richidoo]

Speaker  30%
Amp  20%
Preamp  10%
Source  10%
Cords  15%
Acoustics 15% (want more!)

I agree with Toka about the importance of acoustic treatment. I think even 50% towards room could be worthwhile. Then a less expensive system will give even more enjoyment.

[Rob S.]

Ok here's where I'm at currently,  I will note that only one item (speakers) was bought used so the % is lower than it would otherwise be.

Speakers:   13%
Amp:          25%
Pre:            12%
Source:       26%
All cords:     4%
Acoustics:    20%   ( just arrived today,    , thanks Ethan )


Rob S.

[JP78]

i think the thread should be for cost percentage paid out of pocket, not msrp. i say this in light of the fact a lot of used older components, as well as cables, go for huge discounts, and otherwise these numbers are skewed.

[JLM]

Ideal (based on my planned system when complete and retail pricing)

Speakers                   28%    $1600    Bob Brines FTA-2000
Room/Treatments       19%    $1060   GIK panels, DEQ, audio room upgrades
Power Amp                18%    $1000   Channel Island Audio (CIA) VMB-1 monoblocks
Pre-Amp                    05%    $300    CIA VPC-3
Source             16%     $900     Oppo 970, CIA  VDC-2, VAC-1
Cords              13%   $770      Element Cables throughout
Rack              01%   $30       Ikea Corras nightstand

Total                 $5660

[mjosef]

Current CD sourced system:
1. 23% Speakers
2. 40% Amp.
3. 15% Pre.
4. 10%. CD player.
5. 12% Cables.

Total just over 3K$. All items used except the Amp and CD. If all new total would be almost 6K.

[ooheadsoo]

1.  Speakers & Stands (if required) --50%

2.  Amp(s) -------------------------15%

3   Preamp -------------------------5%

4  Music Source (TT, CPP, Streaming
    Player to include DAC)------------25%

5  Cords (PCs, ICs, SCs) ------------5%

[jon_010101]

33.3% amps
16.66% speakers
16.66% preamp
8.33% CD player
4.167% tuner
4.167% cables

[The13thGryphon]

2-Channel System

Speakers  -------------  36%
Amp   -----------------  25%
Source  ---------------  30%
Cables   ---------------   9%


I generally agree that speakers are one of the most important components of an audio system, but only because they are so subjective and it really is a matter of personal choice. That doesn't necessarily mean that I think you should spend the most on the speakers... just don't short change yourself.

I may be one of the few, but I also believe that the source is also one of the most important components you can buy, and maybe even the single most important. I would spend more on the source than many other folks would think prudent. If you start out with garbage (noise, distortion, lack of clarity or transparency, no soundstage, etc.) it can't be made better by good electronics or a fantastic pair of speakers. Amps, preamps, cables, and speakers can only try to reproduce the signal they are given, and typically succeed in degrading the signal to some degree... with some electronics and/or speakers making it significantly worse!

Start with the best source(s) you can afford, and a pair of speakers that you like the sound of... everything in between should be carefully selected to provide balance and to work in harmony with the beginning and the end of the signal chain; but spend more at the two ends. That's my opinion, anyway.

[TONEPUB]

Hmmm:

My system is

15% speakers
10% power conditioners and cables
10% amp
15% preamp
20% analog front end
30% digital front end

I guess I would say that I'm a real believer in great sources as well.
And good recordings, whenever possible!

[Ethan Winer]

I think even 50% towards room could be worthwhile. Then a less expensive system will give even more enjoyment.

Indeed. Even though I own the company, I still had to pay for the treatments I have. And even at that price the cost of the treatments in my HT was a substantial portion of my total investment. Not counting my Dell Inspiron laptop which I use mainly for mixing surround sound:

65-inch Mitsubishi RPTV: $2,300
5 Loudspeakers: $1,550
SVS Subwoofer: $2,000
Receiver + DVD player + VHS deck: $450
Wire: $50
Gear subtotal: $6,350
42 RealTraps (at list): $7,700

I wouldn't have it any other way.

--Ethan

[electricbear]

Here is how mine breaks down. There is a disproportunate amount on cables because I get a good deal on them.

Digital Source     10%
Analog Source     8%
Preamp              14%
Power Amp         14%
speakers            24%
Cables               30%   

[mfsoa]

Rough estimate, probably don't sum to 100%:
Component     List        Paid
Amp              17          23   
Preamp          17          16   
CD                4            3    (yeah, need new CD player! Ignore the Krell in my sig - It went back broken)
Spkr              30          27   
Tuner            4            1   
Cables           2            2    (the joy of homemade cables and short runs of bulk Anticable)
TT/phno pre   22          17
Acstcl panels  8           12

[MaxCast]

Based on list:

speakers 52%
amp       23
pre amp  12
source    8
cables    4

[rockadanny]

Speakers:   51%  (mains 35% + sub 16%)
Amp:          25%
Pre:           10%
Source:      14%  (CDP)

Although if I consider retail prices, my mains would be 45%, but sub would drop to 10%, which adds up to 55%, so still fairly accurate as is.

[mcullinan]

Speakers 55%
Amps 26%
DAC 5%
Preamp 7%
Cables 3%
SB3 1%
Some percent were shaved somewhere... o well
Mike  aa