What is an appropriate speaker value relative to the rest of your system?

[2fastdriving]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Agreed, my all Grandioso rig powers Aerial 20T's or Dali Epicon 8's. It punches so much higher than it's weight, it is unbelievable!

Your accuphase and aerial 7t system was no slouch either! That is a huge disparity in cost. Still have it?

[metaphacts]

There are many ways to make this decision.

Old school Linn fans overloaded the front end to good effect for those who desired that kind of sound.

Often in retail, we demo'ed speakers with electronics far above the norm (and 30ips tape) to show ultimate speaker capabilities on a modestly priced speakers.

In the 90's, Mark Goldman used to carry around an NAD3020 to play with Watt/Puppies to show a good way to build a system.

All have their proponents and with good reason. IMO, decisions should be more based on what the actual individual components are than on their relative price tags.

[joey_v]

Start with the best speakers you can find. Work your way from there

[Grasshopper]

All great responses. What a fun thread.

I definitely started my system with the speakers as the "major" purchase.

There is still something very special about my older B&W Signature 800s.

What I wasn't prepared for when I began this quest, was the never ending/growing front end. As a result, the speakers as a % of the total system keeps shrinking. (What started as a 50/50 ratio, has diminished to around 30% speakers give or take).

It almost seems like by the time my system is "complete", that the front end will be ready for upgraded speakers

Very fun to hear all of your experience here.

[Haurock]

Anybody remember the game show called "The Weakest Link". I think that is what it was called...

Well, any sound system will only be as good as it's weakest link...

You've heard the expression "these are giant killers" - an expression referred when low priced speakers appear to be as good or better than speakers costing two to three times more - I think this applies here.

If your source is the weakest link, then it doesn't how much you spend or don't spend on your speakers, in the end, your weakest link will hold you back.

However, the contrary is true, if your speakers are you'r weakest link, then no matter how good your electronics are, the sound will be held back by your speakers.

Also remember that if you hear a pair of speakers you really like, remember to note the equipment that was driving the speakers... in the end because synergy is not fixed.. any formula about how much to spend on A, B, or C.. because a crap shoot.

Determine the sound you like.. then build a system to fit that sound based on what you can afford... and don't worry about which part costs you the most, or the least.

ENJOY!

[miketuason]

In my case, the weakest link in my system are my speakers, only 4% of my whole system, this is why I'm shopping for a pair now.

[Still-One]

That weakest link theory was a marketing gimmick started by a company that only produced turntables at the time.

[SuperD]

I chose to upgrade my amps because going up to a bigger speaker would be detrimental to the sound in my smaller room IMO.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by 2fastdriving

Your accuphase and aerial 7t system was no slouch either! That is a huge disparity in cost. Still have it?

The Accuphase gear is in process of being upgraded.

[BuffaloBill]

Originally Posted by Grasshopper

What is your "ideal" speaker budget allocation as a % of your overall system?

I would focus on the quality of the mid-range. But don't look to the usual brands and high prices. You won't find the best mid-range there.

J. Gordon Holt, Stereophile magazine founder and the father of observational audio equipment evaluation, once wrote, "If the midrange isn't right, nothing else matters."
The midrange is important for several reasons. First, most of the musical energy is in the midrange, particularly the important lower harmonics of most instruments. Not only does this region contain most of the musical energy, but the human ear is much more sensitive to midrange and lower treble than to bass and upper treble.