Hi-fi - allocating budget to your kit

This thread is regarding the allocation of a budget to specific components of our hi-fi system.

For those of us who value sound quality equally as important as our music I wish to recommend an excellent tome that was brought to my attention on another forum. The book in question being “The Complete Guide To High-End Hi-Fi” by Robert Harley.

 

Whilst perusing this superb book, which many consider to be the Hi-Fi enthusiast’s bible, I came across the section regarding allocation of costs when choosing your system. He recommends the following budget for a system based on the source component being a CD player. Please note that his figures are just that, a recommendation, and NOT set in stone.

 

Pre-amplifier                    20 %

Power Amplifier               20 %

Digital Source                   13 %

Loudspeakers                     40 %

Cable / Interconnects            7 %

 

My figures are as follows:

 

Pre-amplifier                    16 %

Power Amplifier               31 %

Digital Source                   15 %

Loudspeakers                     31 %

Cable / Interconnects            7 %

 

My figures are fairly close to his recommendation, being determined by many factors, although my system was built prior to reading the book.

So, dear users, what are your approximate percentages? If you have more than one source, and I’m sure many of you will have, include them as well. I think, for the sake of argument that stands / isolation platforms should be included in the cables / interconnects figure, as I have done with mine.

 

As you can see I have omitted costs. This is for two reasons. Firstly, it’s not relevant as we are talking about proportional figures. Secondly, it will eliminate any pre-conceived notions regarding the relative quality of the kit.

 

And please note – this is just a light-hearted exercise – just a bit of fun.

Edited by Glueman - April 21 2007 at 07:07

Daniel - how come? Don't you know how much your kit was?

oh sorry, I thought that these figures were a recommendation on how to spend!

but anyway. I've kind of forgot how much to spend on each part. although it's not really old, the turntable I got 5 years ago, and the other stuff is a newer.

oliverstoned wrote: What about your new Nordost cables BTW?

They arrived the day before yesterday. I have only really had one proper listen, which was late last night (may not have been totally alert). I'm failing to see the complaint about harshness; I was playing 1/3 octave band which is a very atonal album and I found it gave the sound a greater depth. It should be interesting to make note of further differences as I give them a solid listening. But on first remarks, they were definately worth the step up.

oliverstoned wrote: ...are they new? If it's the case, there's a run-in period. My Stefanaudio art headphones cable needed nearly 100 hours!!

yeah, and after 100 hours, do you remember how it originally sounded? nah, I thoght so.

NilsTentacles wrote: oliverstoned wrote: ...are they new? If it's the case, there's a run-in period. My Stefanaudio art headphones cable needed nearly 100 hours!! yeah, and after 100 hours, do you remember how it originally sounded? nah, I thoght so.

It rather that it's better and better hour after hour, it doesn't change suddently but progressively.

 

Pre-amplifier                    20 %

Power Amplifier               20 %

Digital Source                   13 %

Loudspeakers                     40 %

Cable / Interconnects            7 %

 

My figures are as follows:

 

Pre-amplifier                    25 %

Power Amplifier               25 %

Digital Source                   40 %

Loudspeakers                     10 %

Cable / Interconnects            0 %  yeah...0

 

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Edited by Flyingsod - April 30 2007 at 00:16

Black Velvet wrote: oliverstoned wrote: What about your new Nordost cables BTW? They arrived the day before yesterday. I have only really had one proper listen, which was late last night (may not have been totally alert). I'm failing to see the complaint about harshness; I was playing 1/3 octave band which is a very atonal album and I found it gave the sound a greater depth. It should be interesting to make note of further differences as I give them a solid listening. But on first remarks, they were definately worth the step up.

So what's new with the cables?

Advice on hi-fi should be taken as  guide,  mains and signal interconnects are an extremely  important factor, no good units will perform well with cheap interconnects, by allocating only 7% to interconnects it seems Robert Harley could learn something new!   the signal source is also crucial, and decent mid-fi quality speakers can really shine with excellent source components, so....based on average market prices quality amps and speakers can be bought quite reasonably..

Edited by mystic fred - April 30 2007 at 04:51

"It does not mention vib-cancelling accesories and power filters. "