Ask Dr. A! How Much Do I Spend? The Budget Dance

[Audioholics]

<A href="http://www.audioholics.com/FAQs/AskDrAbudgetdance.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 103px; HEIGHT: 100px" alt=[DrA4] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/DrA4_th.gif" align=left border=0></A>This week Bill asks a question regarding budgeting the pricing of various home theater components in order to achieve a reasonable balance. This is a key question, and one we are often asked with respect to spending those hard earned dollars: Is there some kind of accepted price/performance ratio between components? For example, if I am buying a $3000 set of home theater speakers is it pure heresy to hook them up to a $900 receiver? Well, Bill, we'll wrangle up some systems for you to look at and maybe that will help. Or maybe we'll start the biggest controversy this industry has seen since Gene proved that cryogenically freezing your cables in kosher chicken fat only results in a funny-smelling listening room.

[Read the FAQ]

 

[billy p]

I can't afford new floor speakers now, most of my budget went to tv and avr. Based on this theory I blew it when I splurged on the 3805
Oh well, I'm hopeing I'll win the lotto or the new svs floors are that good.

 

[Sheep]

ROFL, nice logo.

SheepStar

 

[billnchristy]

Nice job.

Though I will probably blow any budget I set through the roof, this is a pretty cool guide at least.

Glad I asked.

 

[chadd]

how about my figures

Pioneer PDP5070 / $3500/Not using the speaker that came with it
Omni Pro articulating mount/ $300
Yamaha RX-V2500/ $550
Definitive Technology Towers BP7006
Definitive Technology C/L/R 2002
2 Definitive Technology BP2X
2 Definitive Technology AW100
All Speakers/ $990
Sony Turntable PS-LX250H from best buy which I am probably going to take back/ $130
Pioneer dvd player 490 v s/ $100/ran with hdmi and digital coaxial
Speaker wire and misc. cables/ $50
Cable box/Scientific Atlantic explorer 8300HD/ ran with component
Total cost of my system so far/ $5620

I have hooked up all the speakers except for the aw100's, so i have no rears.

 

[Audioholics]

Total cost of my system so far/ $5620

I guess those Def Tech's were free then? lol Total cost of your UPGRADE you mean? Looking good.

 

[SMM]

UPS Arrives daily.....

Here is where I spent my money on.....

Geco Rack $408
IN76 projector $2,199
Dalite Cinema Contour Screen $970
Chief Ceiling Mount $127
Pioneer VSX-84TXSi receiver $1,100
Denon DVD-1730 dvd player $120
Monitor Audio RS-6, R-LCR, R-FX, Silver In-walls $2,594
Berkline 090 Leather Power Recliners $4,600
Impact Acoustic Cables/Conectors (approx) $500
Two SVS 16-46 PC Plus sub-woofers $1,785
APC J15BLK Power Conditioner/UPS $515
Universal MX-850/MRF-300 remote $290

Total (I can't believe I spent all this money!!) $15,208

 

[hemiram]

I got off cheap so far, compared to some people...I'm trying to keep control of myself..

Sharp LC37D40U LCD TV $2000
Yamaha RX-V659 $350
Mystery brand wall bracket for TV $45- Same as ones selling locally for $200 or more with different colored box.
4 SVS SBS-01 Speakers $450
1 SVS SCS-01 Center $185
Center speaker mount $20
Mispriced Sony Sub $100 (had it hooked up to my PC already) Soon to be replaced anyway.
Philips Upconverting DVD Player $70
Speaker wire $25
Powell audio rack $100 from Big Lots
Sound control panels from Parts Express $100
Speaker Stands $20
Misc plugs and cables, etc, that I didn't already have $135
Radio Shack back surrounds- used on PC, paid $20 a long time ago
Total = $3620

 

[Tumara Baap]

In the $35,000 system, almost $4,000 is apportioned to a processor/amplifier. If one were to use a $1,000 receiver, and put the remaining 3 grand into better loudspeakers or better acoustics, it would only improve the system by leaps and bounds.
In any audio centric system, cables and processors and amps hit a performance ceiling after a certain dollar amount. Benefits level out more gradually for loudspeakers with passive crossovers.
Loudspeakers are an extremely important HT aspect. But it's easy to ace that one. Just buy 'em. A set of beefy Genelecs or equivalent will more or less get you unbelievable performance. That done, it is acoustics (absorption, diffusion, room architecture and equalization) that would be the overwhelming intellectual undertaking of top drawer audiophilia.
Tumara Baap

 

[xboxweasel]

Original purchase took about 6 months and is broken down as follows:
28.5% TV (4300)
28.5% Amplifiers (4300)
9.3% Receiver (1400)
27.2% Speakers (4100)
2.0% DVD Player (300)
1.3% CD Player (200)
3.3% Interconnections + miscellanous stuff (500)

In the two years following, I have upgrade/replaced the receiver, the DVD player and the speakers. All these items are roughly in the same price bracket. However, with a slight difference in performance. For better or worse is personal preference. But hey, what are toys for.

 

[sholling]

I hope I’m not being rude by dragging back an old thread but I found it interesting. I’m in the process building up my system a piece at a time and saving a ton by shopping the internet and finding sales. Anyway I’m in the process of moving into a new home and here is what I’m starting with for my family room.

Panasonic 47” CRT rear projection TV – from my late father
Pioneer VSX-1014 $350
Pioneer DVD/DVD-A/SACD player $125
Boston Acoustics VR3 mains, $850/pr on sale – bi-amped using the rear channel amps
Boston Acoustics VR10 3 way center, $199 on eBay
Boston Acoustics VRX surrounds (1pr) on sale for $299 but not hooked up yet
Belkin PF40 power console $150 but not hooked up yet
Velodyne 12” $350 I forget the model, besides it’ll be on eBay in a month.
BlueJeans subwoofer interconnect ~$50
Misc. interconnects and speaker cable under totaling $100

A savings of about $1,500 off retail

Planned family room purchases
SVS PB12-Plus/2 late September 06 ~$1500 budget
Sony’s soon to be released replacement for the 60” KDS-R60XBR1. I'm planning for ~12/06 with a budget of $3,500 delivered. I’d rather have the upcoming 70” XBR but the room isn’t that big and I’m guessing it will be too pricey.
For the summer of 07 I’m thinking I’ll pick up whatever happens to be the current top of the line Pioneer Elite receiver, my budget - $1,000
Finally a home built media server with ~200 legally ripped CDs in a lossless full CD quality format served to the receiver via fiber. Target the summer of 07.

Whew! That should last me until the HD format wars came to an end.
Comments or suggestions that are within my budget?

Just as an FYI here is what I’m planning to do with the rest of the house…

Master bedroom
Pioneer VSX-912 receiver – old gear
Klipsch Quintet II satellites (1pr) as mains – these are recycled surrounds
Klipsch Quintet II center – eBay $70
Velodyne VX10 – old gear
Planned summer 07 the biggest LCD TV I can find for under $600

Office
Turtle Beach Santa Cruz (sound card)
Klipsch ProMedia 5.1 Ultra - not hooked up yet
HDTV Wonder card