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Which area of components to spend the most $ on? Boy I was wrong all my life!

I have been an audio junkie for about 25 years. All those years, I have read plenty of discussion posts and recommendations where to spend the most money on. The majority, even the experts recommend to spend the most money on speakers. Up to as high as 60% of the total budget.Example: CEO of PS Audio-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYwL7vPkPhg
I believed this all my life. Today, my eyes are opened. My total budget is about $15K.Before today, my system was:Speakers-Revel F36 Concerta 2 (For the money, this is the best speakers I’ve heard. I like it more than my previous Dynaudio Contour 30)Integrated Amp-Marantz PM-10 (Class D, balanced, 400wpc at 4ohms)CD Player-Oppo UDP 205 & Marantz CD 6005 (Some of the best in class)Line conditioner-Furman Elite PFi 15Cables-Kimber 8TC Speaker Cables (Sorry, not a cable nut. I’d rather spend money elsewhere)
I upgraded my front end CD player to... Marantz SA-11S3. I was BLOWN away! This is the greatest upgrade I have ever heard in my life. For 25 years, I was taught to spend the most in speakers. Sorry! It’s the FRONT END! The best source you can afford. The purity transcends down the river. I am blown away by the sheer improvement in detail, clarity, depth, the air around the instruments.
My philosophy has changed.
skimrn
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I own 20.7 Magnepan speakers. I use Kimber 8TC.
I spent $2,250 on power cords just last month... I still use Kimber 8TC
I spent $3,500 on Duplex and plugs late Summer to early Fall. I STILL use Kimber 8TC
KImber 8TC is no slouch.                              
Maybe if I owned Some $72,000 speakers..MBL 101E Radialstrahler I might feel the need to upgrade my speaker cable then.
kahlenz's avatar
kahlenz
168 posts
 
All these percentages boggle my mind.  There are far too many variables.

I'm a speakers first guy.  Find some speakers that fit your room and sound good.  Then get amplification that has the right synergy with the speakers (this forum is a great place to get information on that, and a good dealer is priceless).  Then buy as good a front end as you can afford with the money left over.  Tweak and upgrade as you go, and have fun!

PS:  Start with the room first if you can afford it.

PPS:  It's no surprise the OP noticed a significant difference with a CD player that cost 7x the original.  I would venture to guess, however, that the OP would have noticed an even more significant difference if he would have kept the Oppo and bought some $14,000 speakers!
magneto340
1 posts
 
That was Linn's theory for as long as I can remember. I recently unpacked some speakers I had in storage for 20 years. I put a new Anthem front end for decoding on them and must say I agree. It all starts from the source.
sifter
35 posts
 
Yeah, I'm no maven, sorry, but 10 posts and big free shill for Marantz... Best anecdotal advertising money can buy.
michaelivosevic
3 posts
 
Ask yourself, what factors in my listening environment remain constant regardless of any component changes you may make in the future. The answer is probably the power coming from your wall and the room itself. If we provide appropriate power (components can be fussy) and improve the cleanliness of our A/C, we can make any component sound better. The influence a room makes is well known, so why do we think putting the horse before the cart is the logical procedure. 
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