System advice

OOPS! The 'quality over quantity' statement was to be part of thought 2).

I happen to like some of the "crooner" style easy listening stuff myself, and I’d suggest a totally different direction. How about a McIntosh MAC1700 with a pair of 80’s era Klipsch Heresys and something like a Sota Comet or Thorens TD209? No DAC, but a Bluesound Node is an easy and inexpensive fix for that. It’s mostly all classic stuff that won’t depreciate much if at all, is generally bullet-proof, adaptable to a wide variety of listening environments and works with all source material. If your BIL likes it, he can take it further and in any direction he chooses. If he doesn’t, he can easily and quickly off a piece or the whole kit without losing bux. And it all comes in at or under the $3K budget. Could be worth considering, anyway.

Have fun with the search and happy listening!

The system here must prioritize the reproduction of vocals.  I think a Direct Drive turntable would fit the bill because I think exposed vocals benefit from speed stability.  I would try for one of the Technics 1500 variants and a decent moving magnet cartridge, perhaps Ortofon 2M Blue.  Add a decent phono stage such as the Cambridge Audio mm phono stage and then add powered speakers such as KEF.  

Great starting point.  Table/cart could be upgraded and of course one could spend the balance on speaker stands and a Quadrasprire SVT which would really ramp this system up substantially.  About $2100 for the Rega System One.