hi, i trying to to get my first system together

Get a discounted Naim Nait 5i (List $1,895) or Naim UnitiQute 2 (List $2,595), Linn Majik 140 speakers (List: $2,999?) and any iDevice loaded with tunes and be done with it for life!

Forget chasing rainbows / the holy grail and upgrading all the time! You'll go round and round and spend a lot of money for nothing. Focus on the music!!

Dangitt, I’ll answer this as if the information would be used by a relative, close friend, neighbor, or my brother-in-law. In other words … someone who I’d have to see and hear about my recommendations well into the future. That said, I’m looking at it like this: knowing what I now know, after a few years in the hobby and listening to a few systems, what would I get with a $5,000 budget?
• Odyssey Khartago Stereo Amp $1,000
• Doge 8 Tube Preamp, direct from China via Ebay ($1,475 which includes shipping). Seller has over 1,000 positive feedbacks (100%). Despite what others may say, I got a hybrid tube integrated this way years ago. It is still in good service in my bedroom system.
• EITHER Ascend Acoustics Sierra Tower OR Fritz Speaker Carbon 7’s (approx. $2,000) … depends on if you prefer floor standing (Sierra) or monitor (Fritz), you will not go wrong with either choice, since they both offer 30-day in home audition. I have owned another model of Ascend (given to my daughter for her new home) and have auditioned Fritz at a couple of audio shows.
• For your front-end there are a number of choices between $300-$400 used. Check out today’s offerings on Audiogon – from Rotel 1060 ($299.95) to Oppo Digital BDP-103 ($400), with some good choices in between like Meridian, Marantz and Arcam.
• For cabling start with Blue Jeans Cable throughout. I have auditioned and experimented with many brands and have pricier aftermarket stuff installed in my main rig. But at the entry level point, you cannot do much better in price/performance than Blue Jeans Cable.

This, I believe, represents a killer system for the money. Of course if you want to do some due diligence, just search the archives on this forum, or check Google reviews on anything that I have recommended. There is plenty of additional information available. That way, all you have to do is satisfy yourself on these specific recommendations.

One more option, if you don't want phono or plan on adding vinyl at any time ... pair the Odyssey amp with Odyssey Candela Tube preamp ($1,600 base).

"01-12-15: Phd
I would put in a vote for buying speakers first since they will lay the foundation for your system and because you are working within cost restraints (which many are) buy efficient speakers so you don't have to invest in expensive amplification."

I disagree. You can get yourself into trouble doing it that way. I have a pair of Wilson speakers that are very efficient and if you don't use high quality amplification, they sound like crap. Not only that, with efficient speakers, its very easy to get noise. If you don't match the speakers very carefully with regards to gain and overall build quality, you can get a nasty hiss. For a beginner, I would avoid those types of components.

"01-12-15: Schubert
Everyone always seems to say speakers first, I'd rather listen to a $500 pr of used speakers with a $ 2,000 good integrated Hegel or Yamaha amp than vice-versa. Any day."

You still have to take things on a case by case basis and match your components, but that's a very good strategy. Its a much safer way to go for best results.

Zd542, I should of made myself clearer in my post that a less powered less expensive amp does not have to be lower in sound quality. Let me refer to the line-up of Conrad Johnson amps as an example. You already know that their 100 WPC will cost you less than their 200 WPC amp. Does not mean the 100 WPC amp sounds inferior to their 200 WPC. In fact many would suggest that if you have efficient speakers and can get by with the lower powered amp would actually sound better.

I have owned many amps and I never encountered a hiss problem with efficient speakers.