Help - Need Audiophile advice on small systems

You may want to check-out the Gallo line of speakers from (Anthony Gallo Acoustics). These are very small, easy to drive and maybe in a class of their own for (Micro Sized) speaker systems.

A high quality receiver will drive these speakers with ease, get one with pre-outs for all channels as your friends may move to a larger space in the future. A dedicated two-channel pre with HT pass-through could be added..and/or other amps to the system. The receiver would then function as a pre-pro with extra amps for front/rear or were needed.

Almost all (even the $100) dvd/sacd/dvd-audio players on the market will play dvd-r/dvd-rw's and anything else you throw at them. Pick the one in your price range and of course the one you think sounds best to your ear.

My suggestions are for new products only with all the latest/greatest options. Used gear may be missing some of these options so beware before you buy.

Dave

Audiophile sound + mini systen size = Musical Fidelity X-150 + X-ray. (See page 44 of the November Stereophile.) For small speakers: Gallo Nucleus Solo. There you have it: Small, simple, within budget, and sounds good. Problem solved (for a Stereo system). Given the size constraints, I'm not sure you can do HT--unless maybe you do something "built in". Maybe in-wall or on-wall speakers? For all the "bells and whistles" you describe you will probably need to get a HT receiver, if anyone makes one small enough.

Mapleshade http://www.mapleshaderecords.com/index.php just came out with a micro satellite system in their newest catalog. They redid the guts in the powered sub, and wiring to the pods. Check it out.

If your looking to buy all in one there are a couple of really nice micro(or mini)systems out there. Denon has 2 and yamaha also has 2 nice ones. They are not what you would call audiophile, but good all the same and for a small room like you have mentioned they are more than adaqite. 2 very nice Denon models are the df-101 and the ud-m50. 2 very nice yamaha are the mcre500 and mcre300. The yamaha systems come with speakers, I'm not sure if the Denon ones do. If they don't come equipped with the speakers they do sell nice mission ones that complement the equipment nicely. Hope this helps a little.