Ok so base on my research and experience, if you had $5000 dollar, taking into account diminishing returns, this would be how one should allocate budget for a streaming based mid-fi system:
Speakers: 2000 (40%) Power Amp: 1000 (20%) Pre Amp with room correction capabilities: 1000 (20%) (or allocate to physical room treatment things. Everything else (20%) DAC： 500 Streamer: 200 Cables and interconnects : 200 (not much audible difference so long as not use the shittiest ones) Stands: 100
This is based on that
Speaker matters the most, then suitable amp = room acoustics/speaker placement, then perhaps quality of the DAC’s photo stage pair with a decent DAC chip, then everythig else is probably less than 5%.
I mean, we can argue all day on whether cables are snake oil, but I think for most people it is just about the most efficient resources allocation giving a budget constrain.
I agree, allocation is good.
I think it’s been mentioned but definitely go for an integrated amp over amp and pre. Get one with either a pre-amp out and/or HT bypass for future upgrades. Personally I don’t like the idea of fast moving tech (DAC/streamer) being on-board, but these days might be hard to avoid.
But excellent 20 year old integrated amps go for so little these days. Recently I picked up a Musical Fidelity A3.5 for 650usd. Peanuts for how it performs.