Audio cost percentages for home theater and 2 channel systems.

McLoki

Since spending as much as possible on speakers and as little as possible on electronics seems such the rage now days - I thought it would be interesting to hear how the breakout reallys goes for 2 channel or home theater. Don't include video (that can have its own thread) - just the audio side of Home Theater or two channel. Maybe it can help a few people decide where they need to spend the rest of their budget...

This is a guide, not a dollar contest so costs should be broken into percentages - dollar figures in ranges (and should be system totals)

Total Dollar Ranges should be: (This is home theater - no idea on 2 channel)

• Under 1,000.
• $1,000 - $2,000
• $2,000 - $4,000
• $4,000 - $6,000
• $6000+

For home theater my breakout would be:

• Speakers (5 or 7 speakers - not including subwoofers)
• Subwoofers (say what you want about center channels, but the sub is what makes a killer home theater)
• Electronics (reciever, pre/pro, amps, and I will throw source in there as well)

For 2 channel (this is a guess since I don't currently run a separate 2 channel system)

• Speakers (2 of them, of course - add the sub in here if you use a sub for 2 channel)
• Electronics (integrated, pre-amp, Amp, Reciver, etc.)
• Source (cd player, Tuner, Etc.)

McLoki

Example -

I have a home theater in the $2,000 - $4,000 range and my breakout is like this:
Speakers - 40%
Subwoofers - 20%
Electronics - 40%

No 2 channel system at this time.

F1nut

HT - $0
2 Channel - more $ than I care to admit. That said, it all starts with the source.

janmike

F1nut wrote: »

HT - $0
2 Channel - more $ than I care to admit. That said, it all starts with the source.

I seen you in Ted's room there a bit a week ago. It will catch on.

polktiger

I am just barely in the $2,000 - $4,000 range, but it is

47.5% speakers (7)
42.5% electronics AVR, source, amp for fonts
10% sub

Sub I am not thrilled with, but it is small, and I wanted to get my big BIC 12 out of the den. If I find a better sub over the next couple years that is as small as the PSW 303 then I will likely switch, also considering a passive to DIY sub to use an amp that is just sitting in a closet.

Don't have a real 2 channel rig. The FROG gym rig is the closest thing I have to a music only system, and I would not call my listening to be "critical listening" on that system.

Paul in Canada

My HT is in $2000 - 4000 range.

Speakers 39%
Sub 20%
Electronics 41%

2 ch. someday.

AndyGwis

Retail prices or out of pocket cost? All of my HT was bought new (except a like new B&K amp) but most of it at deep discount. My 2-channel is all used gear at well-below even used market prices.


I'm just over $2K cost, just over $4K retail/street:
Speakers: 27% at cost, 28% at street
Subwoofers: 9% at cost, 17% at street
Electronics: 64% at cost, 55% at street

2 channel is $2 - $4K as well.
Speakers: 15% (skewed as I got such a good deal from Russ)
Electronics: 55%
Source (player and DAC): 30%

For both, cables and such make up a pretty decent percentage as well, and furniture. My TV stand cost as much as my front speakers. My Audio stand also cost nearly as much as my speakers.

In both systems, I'm electronics heavy which I think is a good thing. I can buy nearly any speaker I like and power it adequately with a solid source.

MKZ

home theater in the $2,000 - $4,000 range:
Speakers - 23%
Subwoofer - 27%
Electronics - 50%

steveinaz

My 2-channel is MY HT. $6800 for the audio, about $2000 for the 50" DLP HDTV/Denon DVD-2910.

I'll go surround after I grow 3 more ears....(my motto)

McLoki

AndyGwis wrote: »

Retail prices or out of pocket cost? All of my HT was bought new (except a like new B&K amp) but most of it at deep discount.

I was thinking out of pocket cost. I purchased everything I currently have used. My actual dollars spent came up to the 40% speakers - 20% subwoofers - 40% electronics. ratio I mentioned above.

Interestingly enough - going off retail price of my equipment I come up with a ratio simiar to yours. (with Eletronics taking the lions share of the cost - 35% speakers, 14% sub, 51% electronics)

Anyway - very interesting stuff, will only get more so as others chime in with their breakouts....

Michael

treitz3

I hate math.

You also forgot what hooks it all up....IC's/PC's/conditioners/supplies etc....

Not to mention what you are going to be putting it all on.

That said, 2 channel well over 6K and as far as percentages for me? Depends on the month, so I can't comment.

McLoki

I know I didn't mention interconnects, furniture or video.

For home theater interconnects and cable can really vary depending on run lenth. (30+ ft. HDMI and component are not that rare for a ceiling mounted projector - not to mention rear surrounds)

Furniture is very WAF and room dependant.

And video can be anything depending on what floats their boat.

I was just trying to come up with some percentages not including that stuff that could help some people trying to plan out a system. If you spend $3,000 on speakers, maybe you should plan another $3,000 on electronics to drive them properly - not to mention trying to use the PSW-10 you got free with your purchase as your home theater sub for your 6,000 cubic foot room.

That and I just thought it would be an interesting thread.

Michael

engtaz

Depressing thread. LOL

zx_toth

Ive spent over $6000 thus far on my HT rig, thats my own fault as I bought everything new except the LSis. My Monster Power Center was new but was 80% off. I dont have a dedicated 2 Channel rig at this time.

Its pretty interesting as when I estimated the costs of everything the cost of my speakers vs electronics cost was only a 10$ difference. This will change as I have plans for a lot of electronics updates (Bluray Player, eventual preamp upgrade, stand alone sacd/cd player, etc) while the speakers will stay the same for some time. So far though here is the breakdown .... very interesting ....

46.3 % for electronics (amp, reciever, monster power center, dvd player)
46.2 % for speakers (LSi25s, RM7300/02,RM6902s)
7.3 % for subwoofer (This will be hopefully be upgraded mid next year and take a greater portion of the pie :-) )

Fun stuff .. interesting posts.

Zsolt

ka7niq

zx_toth wrote: »

Ive spent over $6000 thus far on my HT rig, thats my own fault as I bought everything new except the LSis. My Monster Power Center was new but was 80% off. I dont have a dedicated 2 Channel rig at this time.

Its pretty interesting as when I estimated the costs of everything the cost of my speakers vs electronics cost was only a 10$ difference. This will change as I have plans for a lot of electronics updates (Bluray Player, eventual preamp upgrade, stand alone sacd/cd player, etc) while the speakers will stay the same for some time. So far though here is the breakdown .... very interesting ....

46.3 % for electronics (amp, reciever, monster power center, dvd player)
46.2 % for speakers (LSi25s, RM7300/02,RM6902s)
7.3 % for subwoofer (This will be hopefully be upgraded mid next year and take a greater portion of the pie :-) )

Fun stuff .. interesting posts.

Zsolt

Yes, it is interesting to se how it plays out financially.
There are different schools of thought regarding the "best ratios"
Some think you should have the best electronics/front end as possible.
Garbage in = Garbage out
Some think the most should be spent on speakers.
Linn/Sondek, a turn table company liked the former, and Wilson Audio, a speaker company, likes the latter.
My opinion ?
I am with Wilson Audio.
Not that there are not differences in better electronics, etc.
I just think the speakers are the most important, as long as something decent is up the chain.

SolidSqual

I sold all my HT.

50/50 Electronics/Speakers 2Ch.

McLoki

Those opinions are why I wanted real world ratios. Just thought it would be interesting to hear how the ratios worked in the real world.

So far speakers and electronics are about equal with 10-15% being spent on subwoofers.

Very interesting and not really how I thought it would work out. (even in my own system until I added everything up)

So - how does yours work out?

Early B.

HT -- $4K
Speakers - 51%; Electronics - 39%; Subwoofer - 10%

2-Channel -- $3K
Speakers - 31%; Electronics - 41%; Source - 28%;

dudeinaroom

HT
speakers 1%
electronics 99%
sub 0%

2ch
on the back burner for now

McLoki

dudeinaroom wrote: »

HT
speakers 1%
electronics 99%
sub 0%

Running your home theater with all R15's and a Meridian amp/preamp combo?

shahmichael@com

HT--4.5K,SPEAKERS-40%,ELECTRONICS-50%,SUB-10%.I do not have a 2 channel as of yet.I am starting to notice alot less spent on the sub by most people,including me?Is the sub less important to most,or just overlooked.I like this idea,gives a look at how all of us build our systems to soot our tastes.

Gaara

HT+2ch Combo system $6000+

Electronics - 42.1%
Acoustic Treatments - 10.3%
Speakers - 27.5%
Subwoofer - 3.8%
Cables - 8.7%
Accessories + Calibration - 7.6%

daesdaemar

My HT:

HDTV - $3000
Speakers - $1000
Electronics - $1100

What I paid, not retail...

VR3

6000 + here...

I'm pretty well balanced...

Everything, individual cost roughly around 1,000 to 1500

Individually...

So... I mean I'm no math expert...

I would say everything in my system is about 10-9 % of the entire system cost, individually...

some things less, some thingds more...

But it is VERY balanced...

m00npie

HT

6000+

Speakers (5) - 30%
Subwoofer (1) - 21%
Electronics (Receiver \ Amp) - 49%