How do you determine how much to spend on speakers

Buy your dream speakers first and build everything else around them. Speakers are the least likely to improve in technology over time, heaviest and hardest items to sell and ship, lowest on investment return during sale, however, provides the greatest pleasure of all of the items in your system. I have lost count how many amplifiers I've bought and sold, and the same goes for front end equipment, because it's hard to keep up with the technology. I still have the same Klipschorns that I bought back in the mid 70s, and I still have the LaScalas that I added since then. The Khorns have hardly changed in 50 years and in my opinion are still the best speakers ever made. By the way, back then the new Khorns cost $2000, and the new LaScalas cost around $1000.

Redwoodgarden,

Well said.

I think first instead of how much you want to spend on speakers, but rather what type of speaker you want and what type of sound you are looking for. Depending on your choice might change how much you put into your speakers. If you do not know what type of sound or presentation you are looking for then you should go to a local store that will let you bring in your own music and let you listen to various speaker types.

With all due respect, my speakers only cost 20% of the total price of my system (including only CD as a source -- not including turntable). For some reason, for the 25 years I have been an audio junkie, speakers have always been the "sexy" components. Unfortunately, It took me many years and many thousands of dollars to realize that past a certain price point, source and electronics by far have the greatest impact on listening experience.

If a friend of mine had $5,000 to spend on a system, I would recommend that he spend a grand on good used speakers, a grand on a good used CD player and 3 grand on used electronics. (Unfortunately, there is a lot of over priced crap on the market in the electronics department.)

Five grand should get a person a very musical system.

I think you should budget as much as you can to get into the speakers you really want. Electronics are easier to buy/sell.

A good set of speakers will reveal every improvement you make up-stream too.

You can get some GREAT deals on A-gon for some killer used speakers! :)