If your were to assemble a vintage system ?


Let’s say you were going to put together a vintage system and your source was primarily vinyl. Your price limit is $1500. What would it be? 
Make it as musical as possible. Super detail or thunderous bass isn’t going to be very high on the list. My first thought would be a 70’s Marantz receiver (50ish wpc is more than adequate) an 80’s AR table, and any iteration of a Vandersteen 2C that didn’t bust the budget. 

Could easily also swap in a Pioneer SX750 instead of a Marantz. 
Cartridge? Not sure- might actually go with something modern/current. AT or Nagaoka 

what would you put together? 
128x128zavato
When I started college (1971) my parents offered to buy me a new (to me) car. Had a '64 VW that was good enough for me so, I inquired about a 'new' stereo system. Reluctantly agreed....
McIntosh MAC1700 (who needs AM?)    $600
JBL L-100s    $550
Pioneer PL-A25 w/ Shure M91E?  Pretty sure both were less than $350 together. Of course these were 1971 prices but came in under $1500. For nostalgic purposes, I still have this system today. Put way more into them since. Lived in an old house (by Phoenix standards) built in the 20's or 30's. Wooden floor, 12" thick adobe walls and a 12' ceiling. It would really rock that place.
A Sherwood S8900A receiver, an Elac 770H Miracord turntable with an ADC XLM cartridge, a pair of Wharfdale Rosedale speakers.  I owned them all at one time but not in the same system.
I owned the S8900A, it was my first real piece of Hi Fi gear. It had an excellent tuner. I used to record live concerts broadcast on KSAN to my Sony RTR.  
Pretty easy (depending on what you mean by vintage).

Pair of Spics TC50s driven by a  NAD 3020 or Audiolab 8000A.

Source could be an old Thorens TD-124 or a Rega RP1 or RP4.
I'd start right here....    magnificent sound then ..  30 years ago, and magnificent still.  https://www.ebay.com/itm/Pair-of-Acoustat-Model-Spectra-1100-Electrostatic-Speakers/174192845960?has...       or   https://www.ebay.com/itm/ACOUSTAT-MK-141-B-Speakers-PAIR/353404753349?hash=item52489095c5:g:2~AAAOSw...   the first takes wall warts for power to the interface so be sure they are included.  After that I'd go for big power, the more the better.  They have a love affair with MOSFET  amps ..  very high synergy so that if possible... if not high power anything and revisit later.  You should still have $300 or $400 left at this point for a table and some variety of pre for the cartridge.  You will have a system you can build with later.