back when everyone had only one phone, hardwired to the wall in one room, the phone company advised 10 rings....but now, most answering machines are set to grab it after 4 rings or so.... and now, I have phones at 6 or 7 locations in the house, so it seldom takes more than 3 for me to get there.

I tend to wait till the beginning of the 2nd ring, even if I am sitting right beside it.