1. Money
2. Room
3. Audio or A/V?
I will spend 50% at least on speakers ONLY when the room is good.
I will spend 25% on speakers when my room is living room
For A/V, I will spend some extra for a woofer. A $200 no-brand sub woofer will make your A/V system outperform ... The surrounding 5+1 .... too much for most of immigrant's lousy room.
If given $1000, for a A/V in the small basement,
I will go HK reciever $600, Quest woofer $100, Bose Floor Speaker $600 ... well ... a little bit over budget ... stop eating lobster for 2 months ... not a big deal