Spending more on speakers

[jaxwired]

There has been a lot of discussion of late about how much of your budget to spend on speakers. Also, a few people have commented about the spendors I own in relation to the modest electronics.

Something I hadn't thought to point out in the other threads. Prices of speakers have inflated dramatically over the last 20 years and electronics have not done so. 20 years ago, I purchased a pair of KEF Reference 103-3's new from a local retailer. They cost me $1300 USD. Today a similar speaker would be the KEF Reference 203.2 which retails for around $8000 USD (if you can find them that cheap). That's more than a 600% increase in price over 20 years.

Conversely, I could buy an 80 watt/channel NAD integrated amp for about $800 USD 20 years ago. Precisely what it costs today for the modern equivalent. Zero inflation. Therefore, it seems appropriate to spend considerably more on speakers than on electronics.

 

[nads]

Sounds like what I did. But not quite so much.

 

[seasiders rock]

spend as much as you can on the source, be it cd or vinyl...

remember, garbage in, garbage out.....

 

[Ajani]

I'd agree with spending more on speakers than electronics.... I base this almost solely on my own experiences... First off, my favourite setup dedicated 50% of the budget to electronics and the other 50% to speakers...

Also, when I try this simple test:

Comparing using my AKG701 headphones ($500USD) connected directly to my HP laptop (cheapo freebie soundcard) with my Panasonic headphones ($20USD) connected to my Benchmark DAC1 ($1000USD), the AKGs absolutely smoke the Panasonics...

 

[jaxwired]

Why have speaker prices sky rocketed in the last 20 years and electronics have remained unchanged? Hard to say, but one explanation might be that this reflects on the importance of speakers in the Hi Fi. Many people won't pay exorbitant prices for amps and CDP's. They will switch to other brands and get something they feel is still quite good. This is less true with speakers.

 

[Anonymous]

jaxwired: Why have speaker prices sky rocketed in the last 20 years and electronics have remained unchanged?

Disproportionate increase in good hardwood prices in the last 20 years? Global warming, loss of forests, consumption/sustainability?

 

[the record spot]

Stick a cheapo cheapo budget Yowkami Nicolodeon spinner on it (total cost about £4.99) - or the like - and see how good your $8000 boxes make that sound. SISO right enough (or GIGO for the more family friendly forum)!

 

[matthewpiano]

Any pair of speakers can only be as good as the signal being sent to them and even pretty budget speakers like my Quad 11Ls can be extremely revealing of what the electronics are doing.

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules but I tend to think an equal split (rule of thirds plus 10% for cables) is a pretty good starting point.

 

[Anonymous]

My experience is to spend more cash on the speakers. My £450 amp did a stunning job of driving my Spendor SA1s. As long as the amp has enough grunt to get them going then the theory should apply. CDP sources all seem to be pretty good these days and you don't need to spend a lot to get something very respectable. Look at the DAC Magic.

 

[Ajani]

the record spot:Stick a cheapo cheapo budget Yowkami Nicolodeon spinner on it (total cost about £4.99) - or the like - and see how good your $8000 boxes make that sound. SISO right enough (or GIGO for the more family friendly forum)!

I'm sure it would sound a lot better than an $8000 CD player played through $5 speakers.....

Though in reality, I would never suggest that anyone drive $8000 speakers with cheap electronics... the Most I'd suggest is 50/50 Speakers/Electronics.... Once you start to have too much disparity in price between any of the components, I doubt you're getting the best value for your money....

Despite my feeling that most money should be spent on speakers.... I approach my system building by buying a good neutral source and then look for a combo of speakers and amp to tailor the sound to my liking....

 

[the record spot]

Joking aside, I think a wide disparity between components is maybe not so good, but if it floats your boat, then go for it. For vinyl, I'd look to spend more on the source, for digital, a greater balance between amp and CD player, with a decent sum on speakers, but not the lion's share, or even the largest of the three elements by far. Mind you, I'm on the budget rung of the ladder...and, technically, talking out my behind as my speakers were £500 in their day (1994) but my amp (from 2001) was only £400! OK, so there's the trickledown effect in the technology!