How do you determine how much to spend on speakers

Having wandered in the dark space of Speakers first for many years, I finaly find myself firmly in source first land. It is not true that all CDPs are the same once you get above a certain threshold, neither is it true that all speakers are the same. My current ratio is about 2:1 CD to Speakers and while I was skeptical I did what Will suggested and listened. Result: resounding source first.

Interestingly, this debate has been pretty much resolved in the UK (in favor of source first) - but the debate seems alive and kicking here in the US. I wonder why?

Well, dj, that's what makes life interesting. I wonder if the difference between UK and USA has to do with the oft-cited "fact" (which isn't that at all, of course) that all UK speakers sound pretty much the same.

I do think that there are more similarities than differences in sound among UK speaker manufacturers. Gotta love that BBC sound (and I do!).

will

I'm from the UK and I think that the source first arguments (garbage in, garbage out) are nonsense ... the entire signal path is equally important. I agree with Will that cheap CD players sound remarkably good, but I've only heard a couple of expensive CD players (both Meridian) and I was glad I saved my money and bought a Marantz.

Not sure I would hold a torch up for Meridian CD players either! The problem with CD is that you do have to move up a long way to get the kind of returns you can get with Vinyl at much lower levels. I agree most CDPs are crap and time spent arguing between them is pointless...this however is a little different to the source first argument.

Kraz, I do this... Because I've been there and done that. A modest budget and so many choices. Oh my!!!
However, what makes you happy is the number one criteria.
But in my humble opinion I don't think you can go wrong with the following. Remember everyone has an opinion and this is mine...

Speakers first. I've had a bunch There's some good used speakers to be had at very reasonable prices. (Spendors 1/2 are nice) two grand with stands - used.
Consider the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CD player. At $770 (new) fully tweaked it's a true sleeper. (the garbage in garbage out therory in effect)
Speaker cable at say six bucks a foot and another eighty bucks for bananas. So for two twelve foot biwire cables and bananas that's $224.
CD player cables say $300
You're at (we'll round up) $3,500 dollars.
Now the question is what $1,500 dollar integrated amp to buy? You can pick up say a Creek 5350 or McIntosh MA6450 and have a system of you'll be proud and your friends envious.