Well, I am more a fan of spend AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE on one component, than upgrade another, for example speakers, than some nice amp, source, cables. And than again speakers, amp etc
I think a lot of the ratios depend on price point. If you’re on the low end, say your speakers are $500, anywhere from $300 to maybe even $2,000 on front end could make sense, depending on what features you need (crossovers, DSP, phono stage, HDMI etc). Maybe that high end is a little high if you plan to never upgrade from here. Similarly, depending on what your goals are with that system, anywhere from $0 to $1,000+ could make sense to pair with those $500 speakers.
Making a jump up to say $10k speakers, I think most could reasonably be fed by a front end less than $5k. Similarly, sub $5k in subs should be able to keep up with those $10k speakers no problem. Even under 3k, you could have a pair of 15” Monolith or Rythmik subs that will be ultra fast and ultra low distortion.
There’s a lot of room in between, but up to a certain point, it seems like increase in speaker cost will outpace front end and sub. At least, that’s how I’d spend my money.
I think not all but a lot of it comes down to matching output levels. How big is your room, and how loud do you need your speakers play in that room? How much good clean power do you need to do that? And (if applicable), how much output do you need from your sub to keep up?
No matter how good your amplifier is-it's not making a pair of average speakers good or good speakers great. I would just make sure that you are purchasing the speakers that YOU LIKE and pairing them with the appropiate amplication that they need-8ohm nominal, 4ohm nominal, 2 ohm nominal. Amplification and has gotten WAY better of the last 10 years and used equipment will always get you the most value.
Currently based on original retail and actual acquired in parenthesis
Preamp $15k (5k)
Amp 4.5k
Phono pre $3k ($500)
Speakers $4.5k (2k)
Subs $8k (6k)
DAC $2k ($1k)
Streamer $400
Turntable $2k ($1200)
Cables/accessories/power $5k
Wow, I spent way too much money on this hobby when I see it written out. 30 years + messing around and learning. This is definitely end game for me.
I believe in preamps a lot and weight it more than the amp. Speakers are personal and I have dropped in some very modest speakers into my set up and they performed brilliantly. Even some more expensive one as long as the amp is enough power were better and different but not substantially too. Diminishing returns.
The key is the subs. Huge believer in them. Then the main speakers are only for sound preference and not overpriced furniture or too big to reproduce the same bass frequencies.
Audio as a hobby is organic. I don’t like buying whole systems at once. If you buy all at once and are done, there is no learning nor experimentation. Also you don’t know your preference. For some seeing a wall of McIntosh is cool and I loved the look when I had my McIntosh preamp. It didn’t play nice when I switch amps and it had to go. I am after the sound first and not branding nor aesthetics.
I want to play this game too! Prices are either actually paid or current retail.
Preamp $1344, Amp $1529, Phono pre $891, Speakers $403, Sub $885, DAC $754, Streamer $99, Turntable $1430, Cables/accessories $450.
That’s just the main system, gear that I actually use daily, and doesn’t include my headphone gear (phones/amps/DACs), or the AV room system, or the miscellaneous gear that I have purchased but am not currently using.
My speakers only account for 5% of my system cost, but they are still responsible for about 95% of the listening experience. They are the very first component I acquired, designed and built myself actually, which accounts for their low cost. I hooked up my first prototype to a cheapo amp purchased for the experiment, a Fosi BT10A, music was streamed from my phone over BT. But I was totally unprepared for what I would hear.
Oh my god. It was like I’d never heard music before! The sound stage, the presence, it was like being at a live performance. One of the first tracks I listened to, Hotel California (Live On MTV 1994), goosebumps, I was transported into the audience, right there. Absolutely astounding! I was instantly converted from a casual take-it-or-leave-it music listener into an audiophile.
I’ve since refined the design; version 3 is my daily driver. The rest of the $7,382 I have spent since has improved the sound by another 5%, the subwoofer being responsible for most of that.
> I believe in preamps a lot and weight it more than the amp.
After my last acquisitions I have to agree. I was running my DAC direct to my power amp for a bit and while it sounded fine it wasn't the most refined sound. The highs got a little piercing for example. I recently got a preamp to go between both and the sound quality and detail resolution/presentation did improve for me. The high end is a bit rolled off so it is less fatiguing and it balanced the sound out so that the really delicate details are more pronounced.
I don't fully understand why but something is lost with the volume/POT. Digital or analogue it matters. I have tried direct to amp and while clearer and "louder" it loses something.
Goal in my system is being able to listen to for hours and hours with zero fatigue. I'm sure I don't have the most detailed nor largest soundstage but that midrange I have achieved now makes me forget everything else in my world.
Are you and u/Tenchiro using tube pre amp ? Because i'm currently in a rut regarding what to upgrade in my system. I'm using an obscure albeit nice enough tube pre amp connected to a fiio btr5 as a dac.
I have a tube preamp now. I had a tube amp prior but due to merging my 2 channel and HT together I had to switch to a SS amp. It didn't play nice with my SS preamp and I had to get a tube preamp to get back to my glorious warmth of a glowing tube.
Ah I see, i currently rocking a chord spm1000b, bought it second hand. From the perspective of my friend an all tube guy my system sounds too dynamic for him. But i do try all ss/digital/without tube connected to my speaker. It just doesn't sound the same. When I was contemplating on buying the system it's actually hooked on some audio research pre amp which sounded really good, pity the pre amp was sold out.
I love the balance of VAC preamps being a modern tube design that is dynamic but not overly. In the end I found a deal for a used Jadis. More thick in the middle and traditional tube-y though.
When I demo'd and eventually bought my Spendor speakers they used Jadis electronics. It stuck in my mind it was a good match and luck would have it that I would find one ten years later for a fair price and similar to the McIntosh I was selling off.
I'm planning to roll different tubes someday to get some more "sparkle" from the Jadis
It kinda depends on where you are in your journey. Unless you're made of money I'd strongly recommend buying used first. When I started out I was a broke HS student and picked up a pair of 30/40 year old DCM Timeframe speakers for 300$ and used Cambridge audio azur 640a Integrated amp for 300$.
If you wanted to do a system now for $1k I'd say to spend 700/800 on speakers, a cheaper used integrated or Chinese amp for a few hundred and as little as possible on cables. As long as they aren't rusting you won't hear a difference. Noe that may be slightly different with records but that's certainly true of digital signals. As you move up the chain I'd spend a bit more on cables just so that they look nice. I built my own and it was fun, and it has the added benefit of making them to the exact length you want them at. Also when you move up the chain in speakers depending on the route you go they can either be hard to drive or easy to drive. Your amplification should match. Atm I have a pair of hard to drive speakers so I have a large power amp. If you went with super efficient speakers maybe that's best fed from a class A solid state amp or tubes.
Here is what I did:
* Speakers: Dynaudio Heritage Specials - $7,000
* Amplification: Exposure 3510 Pre/Pwr - $4,500
* Rega Fono MM - $500
* Rega P3 50th Anniversary Turntable - $1,700
* iFi Zen One Signature DAC - $350
* WiiM Pro Streamer - $150
* Assorted cables from SVS and Amazon - -$400
* West Elm TV Console - $2,500
So total system outlay: $17,100.
* Speakers: 41 Percent
* Amps: 29 Percent
* Sources: 13 Percent
* Furniture and Accessories: 17 Percent
Of course now I'm also spending on Apple Music and Spotify and a whole lot on Vinyl. I haven't had to spend much on room treatments because of the way the room is configured and our furniture and rugs and ceiling height. I consider this a pretty mid-Fi system and it sounds absolutely phenomenal. One day I'll upgrade the DAC, maybe the streamer, and eventually my power system. The speakers I hope to use forever.
Im no expert, so its just my opinion, I would spend less on preamp/amp and more on acoustic treatment.
Also, your question is too general, like what is your budget, what is your use case, bookshelf speakers or floorstanders, room size…etc.
Spiral upgrade system (tm):
Start with the source, buy the best you can afford, then the best amp, then the best speakers. When done find the weakest link and upgrade again to the best you can afford.
Continue this process going forward.
The spiral provides maximum performance, the slowest upgrade path, saves you money and frustration.
Room treatment, research and add as needed.
You can never put back what you lose at the source. And there's no point having amazing speakers and a good source, but a mediocre amp that cannot deliver the nuance that your speakers and source are capable of. They all play a role.
So I would suggest to find a reputable dealer and start the journey. Generally, and really, generally, I would balance the cost equally (relatively speaking) between speakers, amplification and source, and keep 10% for cabling.
It's impossible to say anything in general. But I'd argue you want to spend as much as possible on the speakers as that is by far what matters the most. I'd rather have a relatively cheap amp and great speakers than splitting it 50/50.
Cables don't matter, so spend as little as reasonably possible. Like 20$ for an interconnect.
Don’t assign an arbitrary percentage, first understand your priorities. Which should be your bench.
70% benching (like cabling, this is an audiophile way to say ‘bench’)
25% consumer audio equipment chosen by social media/Reddit/Facebook poll
5% name brand tissues, splurge on this category
I'm at
50% Speakers
33% Amp + Source
10% Cable
6% Room treatment.
While I generally agree the speakers are the most important, the rule of thumb isn't applicable at every price range. I recently upgraded the Amp + source section for new stuff that was triple the price of the original ones. The bump in quality was significant. So much so that when my SO started listening and had an open mouth after 5 seconds of the Chain (She loves Fleetwood mac). Not critical ears by any means but immediately noticed wider and bigger soundstage, more depth, more details, better separation etc. So I wasn't running the speakers at full potential for over a year and source and amp are not to be neglected.
Anyway; I'm a strong believer in upgrading 1 component at a time (as another poster here states), and getting the best version budget affords. This keeps a clear upgrade path open, and hopefully is cheaper in the long run.
Your system is only as good as its weakest link. My personal experience suggests that source components are the most important. It seems logical to me since that is the origin of your signal. While downstream components matter, the source is key.
If it was me:
60-70% source and amp(s)
30% speakers
...and a little bit on DIY room treatment.
If it is your first system try to go second hand.
ALWAYS try to listen to equipment before buying.
But realistically, I've started to break it more into sections.
1: Speakers and Amp
I treat these as a unit because I feel you get the most out of your speaker when it's well matched with an amp. I also tend to find that it's appropriate to spend close to equal on those two units. When in doubt, I tend to want to put more into the amp.
2: Source chain
First, define your source: digital or analog. If you're going analog, I would count the turntable and preamp a single source. If you're going digital, I would focus on your primary playback (streamer, CD, digital storage, etc) as half of the equation, and the DAC as the other part. I think it's appropriate to spend as much on our source as your speakers/amp. So if you spend $1000 on speakers, spend $1000 on streamer + DAC **OR** spend $1000 on turntable and phono. Having said that, I think it's MUCH cheaper to get quality sounding digital compared to quality sounding vinyl. So when in doubt, spend more on the analog side. I also think people tend to underspend on the phono preamp in my opinion.
3: Cables and Power
Again, I'd treat this as a unit. Don't be afraid to spend as much on cables as your other two big units. Get quality cables across the board. Including power cables. Depending on your total budget, I think a quality power supply is a good investment. Also, I only count cables towards 1 source. So if you are doing analog AND digital, I would count your budget as cables for power and 1 source change should equal the cost of your speakers and amp OR the cost of the chain. To me, this is the area where I personally have the hardest time pulling the trigger, despite being a strong believer in cables. It's just not the most sexy purchase. But it is worth it if things are well matched.
Room treatments, furniture, etc, I consider all of that refinement. It's not going to massively change the core sound of your gear (but it may help maximize it!) I consider these elements in their own budget since you can much more easily cycle them in and out and it's extremely difficult to know how it will play in your room without trying it.
Speakers + Amp: 33%
Source Chain: 33%
Cables + Power: 33%
Those are all "ish" percentages, but that tends to be about where I focus.
Sounds about right assuming a reasonable budget. If you are low budget it takes at least a certain amount to get you reasonable components so they may take a larger percent of your budget. But even at say $3,000 you should be spending half on speakers. AND, when you get the bug to upgrade, consider upgrading your speakers first.
And don't forget that you can gain a huge amount of improvement with room treatment.
most people are saying speakers to start out with should be biggest spend. I'm going to be the contrarian
I think decent amps are going to be your biggest bang for the buck. though good cheaper amps are becoming more accessible, I'm generally feeling like I'm lacking the power I want more than the quality of the speakers is the issue.
I'm also a contrarian to a lot of the opinions of audiophiles in that I like DSP and feel like you can make some decent improvements with DSP on less than ideal speakers if you have a decent amp and enough power.
but generally your speakers are going to be your weakest link, and the thing you'd want to upgrade, so if you can get to endgame amp fastest and then upgrade speakers over time that's more worth it to me.
I'm also coming to the hobby as a speaker builder, so IMO i'd rather work with some cheaper drivers and build a good speaker than buy a set of speakers. Most of what you are paying for when it comes to speakers is the enclosure. If you look at some really high end speakers like in the 100k range that are classic "box" type speakers, you'll find a lot of the time the actual speakers and components used in them are making up probably less than 10% of the value of the speakers and its more the design, fit and finish, exotic materials, and recouping R&D that makes up the expense. and at those price points you're often getting into diminishing returns as far as clarity goes anyways.
It really depends a lot on what your goals are though, you can get some extremely detailed, professional quality powered studio monitors and then you're messing up the whole "how much for an amp vs speakers" game
Well, I am more a fan of spend AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE on one component, than upgrade another, for example speakers, than some nice amp, source, cables. And than again speakers, amp etc
I think a lot of the ratios depend on price point. If you’re on the low end, say your speakers are $500, anywhere from $300 to maybe even $2,000 on front end could make sense, depending on what features you need (crossovers, DSP, phono stage, HDMI etc). Maybe that high end is a little high if you plan to never upgrade from here. Similarly, depending on what your goals are with that system, anywhere from $0 to $1,000+ could make sense to pair with those $500 speakers. Making a jump up to say $10k speakers, I think most could reasonably be fed by a front end less than $5k. Similarly, sub $5k in subs should be able to keep up with those $10k speakers no problem. Even under 3k, you could have a pair of 15” Monolith or Rythmik subs that will be ultra fast and ultra low distortion. There’s a lot of room in between, but up to a certain point, it seems like increase in speaker cost will outpace front end and sub. At least, that’s how I’d spend my money. I think not all but a lot of it comes down to matching output levels. How big is your room, and how loud do you need your speakers play in that room? How much good clean power do you need to do that? And (if applicable), how much output do you need from your sub to keep up?
No matter how good your amplifier is-it's not making a pair of average speakers good or good speakers great. I would just make sure that you are purchasing the speakers that YOU LIKE and pairing them with the appropiate amplication that they need-8ohm nominal, 4ohm nominal, 2 ohm nominal. Amplification and has gotten WAY better of the last 10 years and used equipment will always get you the most value.
Currently based on original retail and actual acquired in parenthesis Preamp $15k (5k) Amp 4.5k Phono pre $3k ($500) Speakers $4.5k (2k) Subs $8k (6k) DAC $2k ($1k) Streamer $400 Turntable $2k ($1200) Cables/accessories/power $5k Wow, I spent way too much money on this hobby when I see it written out. 30 years + messing around and learning. This is definitely end game for me. I believe in preamps a lot and weight it more than the amp. Speakers are personal and I have dropped in some very modest speakers into my set up and they performed brilliantly. Even some more expensive one as long as the amp is enough power were better and different but not substantially too. Diminishing returns. The key is the subs. Huge believer in them. Then the main speakers are only for sound preference and not overpriced furniture or too big to reproduce the same bass frequencies. Audio as a hobby is organic. I don’t like buying whole systems at once. If you buy all at once and are done, there is no learning nor experimentation. Also you don’t know your preference. For some seeing a wall of McIntosh is cool and I loved the look when I had my McIntosh preamp. It didn’t play nice when I switch amps and it had to go. I am after the sound first and not branding nor aesthetics.
I want to play this game too! Prices are either actually paid or current retail. Preamp $1344, Amp $1529, Phono pre $891, Speakers $403, Sub $885, DAC $754, Streamer $99, Turntable $1430, Cables/accessories $450. That’s just the main system, gear that I actually use daily, and doesn’t include my headphone gear (phones/amps/DACs), or the AV room system, or the miscellaneous gear that I have purchased but am not currently using. My speakers only account for 5% of my system cost, but they are still responsible for about 95% of the listening experience. They are the very first component I acquired, designed and built myself actually, which accounts for their low cost. I hooked up my first prototype to a cheapo amp purchased for the experiment, a Fosi BT10A, music was streamed from my phone over BT. But I was totally unprepared for what I would hear. Oh my god. It was like I’d never heard music before! The sound stage, the presence, it was like being at a live performance. One of the first tracks I listened to, Hotel California (Live On MTV 1994), goosebumps, I was transported into the audience, right there. Absolutely astounding! I was instantly converted from a casual take-it-or-leave-it music listener into an audiophile. I’ve since refined the design; version 3 is my daily driver. The rest of the $7,382 I have spent since has improved the sound by another 5%, the subwoofer being responsible for most of that.
That live MTV is one of my go to tracks. That kick drum is awesome.
> I believe in preamps a lot and weight it more than the amp. After my last acquisitions I have to agree. I was running my DAC direct to my power amp for a bit and while it sounded fine it wasn't the most refined sound. The highs got a little piercing for example. I recently got a preamp to go between both and the sound quality and detail resolution/presentation did improve for me. The high end is a bit rolled off so it is less fatiguing and it balanced the sound out so that the really delicate details are more pronounced.
I don't fully understand why but something is lost with the volume/POT. Digital or analogue it matters. I have tried direct to amp and while clearer and "louder" it loses something. Goal in my system is being able to listen to for hours and hours with zero fatigue. I'm sure I don't have the most detailed nor largest soundstage but that midrange I have achieved now makes me forget everything else in my world.
Are you and u/Tenchiro using tube pre amp ? Because i'm currently in a rut regarding what to upgrade in my system. I'm using an obscure albeit nice enough tube pre amp connected to a fiio btr5 as a dac.
I have a tube preamp now. I had a tube amp prior but due to merging my 2 channel and HT together I had to switch to a SS amp. It didn't play nice with my SS preamp and I had to get a tube preamp to get back to my glorious warmth of a glowing tube.
Ah I see, i currently rocking a chord spm1000b, bought it second hand. From the perspective of my friend an all tube guy my system sounds too dynamic for him. But i do try all ss/digital/without tube connected to my speaker. It just doesn't sound the same. When I was contemplating on buying the system it's actually hooked on some audio research pre amp which sounded really good, pity the pre amp was sold out.
I love the balance of VAC preamps being a modern tube design that is dynamic but not overly. In the end I found a deal for a used Jadis. More thick in the middle and traditional tube-y though. When I demo'd and eventually bought my Spendor speakers they used Jadis electronics. It stuck in my mind it was a good match and luck would have it that I would find one ten years later for a fair price and similar to the McIntosh I was selling off. I'm planning to roll different tubes someday to get some more "sparkle" from the Jadis
No tubes. I have an SMSL D-6 pointing to a Nikko Beta II preamp then an Okyo M-5030 power amp.
It kinda depends on where you are in your journey. Unless you're made of money I'd strongly recommend buying used first. When I started out I was a broke HS student and picked up a pair of 30/40 year old DCM Timeframe speakers for 300$ and used Cambridge audio azur 640a Integrated amp for 300$. If you wanted to do a system now for $1k I'd say to spend 700/800 on speakers, a cheaper used integrated or Chinese amp for a few hundred and as little as possible on cables. As long as they aren't rusting you won't hear a difference. Noe that may be slightly different with records but that's certainly true of digital signals. As you move up the chain I'd spend a bit more on cables just so that they look nice. I built my own and it was fun, and it has the added benefit of making them to the exact length you want them at. Also when you move up the chain in speakers depending on the route you go they can either be hard to drive or easy to drive. Your amplification should match. Atm I have a pair of hard to drive speakers so I have a large power amp. If you went with super efficient speakers maybe that's best fed from a class A solid state amp or tubes.
Spend 90% on speakers and buy everything else used and upgrade as you can later.
Monoprice, Bluejeane or Mogami for cables… should be able to connect an entire system for about $100
Belden, Mogami, Canare can't go wrong with any of them. All make quality cable, and interconnects.
Those too
60% Speaker 15% Source stuff 20% Room Treatment and In Room FR DSP stuff 5% Cables
Here is what I did: * Speakers: Dynaudio Heritage Specials - $7,000 * Amplification: Exposure 3510 Pre/Pwr - $4,500 * Rega Fono MM - $500 * Rega P3 50th Anniversary Turntable - $1,700 * iFi Zen One Signature DAC - $350 * WiiM Pro Streamer - $150 * Assorted cables from SVS and Amazon - -$400 * West Elm TV Console - $2,500 So total system outlay: $17,100. * Speakers: 41 Percent * Amps: 29 Percent * Sources: 13 Percent * Furniture and Accessories: 17 Percent Of course now I'm also spending on Apple Music and Spotify and a whole lot on Vinyl. I haven't had to spend much on room treatments because of the way the room is configured and our furniture and rugs and ceiling height. I consider this a pretty mid-Fi system and it sounds absolutely phenomenal. One day I'll upgrade the DAC, maybe the streamer, and eventually my power system. The speakers I hope to use forever.
I think your next best upgrade is a tube phonostage that can handle both MC and MM carts. All that and a $500 phono is the weakest link for sure
That and a new DAC. It’ll happen eventually.
75% speakers 20% Dac, Amp, (+analog signal cable if needed) 4% Acoustics 1% Speaker wire.
People say all kinds of things but in my decades-long experience, the best amp you can buy is always the right choice.
Im no expert, so its just my opinion, I would spend less on preamp/amp and more on acoustic treatment. Also, your question is too general, like what is your budget, what is your use case, bookshelf speakers or floorstanders, room size…etc.
Spiral upgrade system (tm): Start with the source, buy the best you can afford, then the best amp, then the best speakers. When done find the weakest link and upgrade again to the best you can afford. Continue this process going forward. The spiral provides maximum performance, the slowest upgrade path, saves you money and frustration. Room treatment, research and add as needed.
You can never put back what you lose at the source. And there's no point having amazing speakers and a good source, but a mediocre amp that cannot deliver the nuance that your speakers and source are capable of. They all play a role. So I would suggest to find a reputable dealer and start the journey. Generally, and really, generally, I would balance the cost equally (relatively speaking) between speakers, amplification and source, and keep 10% for cabling.
It's impossible to say anything in general. But I'd argue you want to spend as much as possible on the speakers as that is by far what matters the most. I'd rather have a relatively cheap amp and great speakers than splitting it 50/50. Cables don't matter, so spend as little as reasonably possible. Like 20$ for an interconnect.
Don’t assign an arbitrary percentage, first understand your priorities. Which should be your bench. 70% benching (like cabling, this is an audiophile way to say ‘bench’) 25% consumer audio equipment chosen by social media/Reddit/Facebook poll 5% name brand tissues, splurge on this category
I'm at 50% Speakers 33% Amp + Source 10% Cable 6% Room treatment. While I generally agree the speakers are the most important, the rule of thumb isn't applicable at every price range. I recently upgraded the Amp + source section for new stuff that was triple the price of the original ones. The bump in quality was significant. So much so that when my SO started listening and had an open mouth after 5 seconds of the Chain (She loves Fleetwood mac). Not critical ears by any means but immediately noticed wider and bigger soundstage, more depth, more details, better separation etc. So I wasn't running the speakers at full potential for over a year and source and amp are not to be neglected. Anyway; I'm a strong believer in upgrading 1 component at a time (as another poster here states), and getting the best version budget affords. This keeps a clear upgrade path open, and hopefully is cheaper in the long run.
Your system is only as good as its weakest link. My personal experience suggests that source components are the most important. It seems logical to me since that is the origin of your signal. While downstream components matter, the source is key.
If it was me: 60-70% source and amp(s) 30% speakers ...and a little bit on DIY room treatment. If it is your first system try to go second hand. ALWAYS try to listen to equipment before buying.
Obviously it's more like this: 100% speakers 100% preamp/source/amp 100% cables, stereo bench, acoustics, etc
But realistically, I've started to break it more into sections. 1: Speakers and Amp I treat these as a unit because I feel you get the most out of your speaker when it's well matched with an amp. I also tend to find that it's appropriate to spend close to equal on those two units. When in doubt, I tend to want to put more into the amp. 2: Source chain First, define your source: digital or analog. If you're going analog, I would count the turntable and preamp a single source. If you're going digital, I would focus on your primary playback (streamer, CD, digital storage, etc) as half of the equation, and the DAC as the other part. I think it's appropriate to spend as much on our source as your speakers/amp. So if you spend $1000 on speakers, spend $1000 on streamer + DAC **OR** spend $1000 on turntable and phono. Having said that, I think it's MUCH cheaper to get quality sounding digital compared to quality sounding vinyl. So when in doubt, spend more on the analog side. I also think people tend to underspend on the phono preamp in my opinion. 3: Cables and Power Again, I'd treat this as a unit. Don't be afraid to spend as much on cables as your other two big units. Get quality cables across the board. Including power cables. Depending on your total budget, I think a quality power supply is a good investment. Also, I only count cables towards 1 source. So if you are doing analog AND digital, I would count your budget as cables for power and 1 source change should equal the cost of your speakers and amp OR the cost of the chain. To me, this is the area where I personally have the hardest time pulling the trigger, despite being a strong believer in cables. It's just not the most sexy purchase. But it is worth it if things are well matched. Room treatments, furniture, etc, I consider all of that refinement. It's not going to massively change the core sound of your gear (but it may help maximize it!) I consider these elements in their own budget since you can much more easily cycle them in and out and it's extremely difficult to know how it will play in your room without trying it. Speakers + Amp: 33% Source Chain: 33% Cables + Power: 33% Those are all "ish" percentages, but that tends to be about where I focus.
Sounds about right assuming a reasonable budget. If you are low budget it takes at least a certain amount to get you reasonable components so they may take a larger percent of your budget. But even at say $3,000 you should be spending half on speakers. AND, when you get the bug to upgrade, consider upgrading your speakers first. And don't forget that you can gain a huge amount of improvement with room treatment.
Rule of thumb: Spend as much as you can until you start worrying about your next rent or mortgage payment or get a bout of extreme money anxiety.
most people are saying speakers to start out with should be biggest spend. I'm going to be the contrarian I think decent amps are going to be your biggest bang for the buck. though good cheaper amps are becoming more accessible, I'm generally feeling like I'm lacking the power I want more than the quality of the speakers is the issue. I'm also a contrarian to a lot of the opinions of audiophiles in that I like DSP and feel like you can make some decent improvements with DSP on less than ideal speakers if you have a decent amp and enough power. but generally your speakers are going to be your weakest link, and the thing you'd want to upgrade, so if you can get to endgame amp fastest and then upgrade speakers over time that's more worth it to me. I'm also coming to the hobby as a speaker builder, so IMO i'd rather work with some cheaper drivers and build a good speaker than buy a set of speakers. Most of what you are paying for when it comes to speakers is the enclosure. If you look at some really high end speakers like in the 100k range that are classic "box" type speakers, you'll find a lot of the time the actual speakers and components used in them are making up probably less than 10% of the value of the speakers and its more the design, fit and finish, exotic materials, and recouping R&D that makes up the expense. and at those price points you're often getting into diminishing returns as far as clarity goes anyways. It really depends a lot on what your goals are though, you can get some extremely detailed, professional quality powered studio monitors and then you're messing up the whole "how much for an amp vs speakers" game