Badmoth...the advice above is all very solid. I would add that you should take some time and just read some reviews of components in your price range and start using those reviews as tools to narrow down possible options. Here are some sites for you to visit:
http://www.stereophile.com
http://www.avguide.com
http://www.soundstage.com
http://www.positive-feedback.com
http://www.6moons.com
http://www.tonepublications.com
Within the soundstage.com network of affiliated sites, there is a site dedicated to affordable audiophile products called Good Sound at http://www.goodsound.com which may be a very good place to start. Also, I would look at Stereophile's Recommended Component listings that come out in April and October of each year as well as the The Absolute Sounds Editor Choice Awards listings (most recent TAS issue) as a starting point from which to read about products in your price range.
I agree that in your budget it is best for you to start with an integrated amp. I don't think you can go wrong with an NAD integrated and PSB floor standers but as has been said many times above, there are many permutations that will get you there. When I first embarked on my audiophile journey some 4-5 years ago, I spent the first 3 months or so just reading everything I could. Not only does this help narrow your list down but it also helps you pick up the lingo, so that when you read product reviews you begin to understand how to interpret the language being used to describe a product's sonics to how you would experience it in the real world. I then spent a few months auditioning all kinds of products and out of four high-end audio shops in my area (I am certainly lucky to be able to live in an area with multiple options), I was able to establish a very good relationship with one of the shops and have been auditioning products in their great listening rooms ever since. I realize this is not always possible. In your case, you may want to take advantage of on-line retailers, many of whom have 30-day money-back guarantees to try out products in your home, and if you are not happy with them, you can always return them. The on-line retailers with flexibile return policies are:
Audio Advisor: http://www.audioadvisor.com
Music Direct: http://www.musicdirect.com
Acoustic Sounds: http://www.acousticsounds.com
Jerry Raskins Needle Doctor: http://www.needledoctor.com
Enjoy the research/auditioning process. Come back to Agon with specific questions on specific components and/or component combinations and good luck.
http://www.stereophile.com
http://www.avguide.com
http://www.soundstage.com
http://www.positive-feedback.com
http://www.6moons.com
http://www.tonepublications.com
Within the soundstage.com network of affiliated sites, there is a site dedicated to affordable audiophile products called Good Sound at http://www.goodsound.com which may be a very good place to start. Also, I would look at Stereophile's Recommended Component listings that come out in April and October of each year as well as the The Absolute Sounds Editor Choice Awards listings (most recent TAS issue) as a starting point from which to read about products in your price range.
I agree that in your budget it is best for you to start with an integrated amp. I don't think you can go wrong with an NAD integrated and PSB floor standers but as has been said many times above, there are many permutations that will get you there. When I first embarked on my audiophile journey some 4-5 years ago, I spent the first 3 months or so just reading everything I could. Not only does this help narrow your list down but it also helps you pick up the lingo, so that when you read product reviews you begin to understand how to interpret the language being used to describe a product's sonics to how you would experience it in the real world. I then spent a few months auditioning all kinds of products and out of four high-end audio shops in my area (I am certainly lucky to be able to live in an area with multiple options), I was able to establish a very good relationship with one of the shops and have been auditioning products in their great listening rooms ever since. I realize this is not always possible. In your case, you may want to take advantage of on-line retailers, many of whom have 30-day money-back guarantees to try out products in your home, and if you are not happy with them, you can always return them. The on-line retailers with flexibile return policies are:
Audio Advisor: http://www.audioadvisor.com
Music Direct: http://www.musicdirect.com
Acoustic Sounds: http://www.acousticsounds.com
Jerry Raskins Needle Doctor: http://www.needledoctor.com
Enjoy the research/auditioning process. Come back to Agon with specific questions on specific components and/or component combinations and good luck.