The BEST Audiophile System under $5k...

Resolution Audio CD w/vol ctl(1300?), Vandersteen 2ceSignatures (1600), vtl st-85 tube amp(1700), Nordost Blue Heaven interconnect(500?). Not exactly sure of the prices, but pretty close.

This thread is about as subjective as it gets! I'd say MY system. Some of these pieces are a little older and not made anymore but is all less than 8 years old and can be had now for even less! Snell CV speakers($1900), Hafler 9270 150Wx2 amp ($800), Parasound DAC 1600 ($800), Pioneer DVL-700 CD/DVD/LD - beefy transport! ($750), Audio Alchemy DTI-PRO32($600), Audioquest Quartz interconnects,Audio Alchemy powered digital cable, and Audioquest Cobalt speaker cable ($600), Panamax MAX1000+ ($200). OK, this brings it to $5650, but you can probably pay far less for this on this site and be well under the $5K limit. I've bought a few pieces, including some of the equipment above, used for the prices listed. I am not going to go out on a limb and say this "sounds" better than any of these other systems listed but I am extremely satisfied with the equipment and the sound! In a perfect world we'd be able to listen to all of the combos above and vote! Who knows, with progression of technology we'll be able to do that in a "virtual" setting one day. Wouldn't that be cool! Enjoy the music!

I know this thread was started with NEW equipment as the guideline. Sorry 'bout that.

How 'bout this: Wright Sound WLA12A Line Preamp; Wright Sound WPP100C Phono Preamp; Electronic Tonalities AfterGlow Amp; Rega Planar 25 turntable w/ Elys cartridge; Soliloquy SM-2A3 Speakers w/stands; BetterCables 3m Premium Speaker Cables & 1m Audio Interconnects. You can upgrade by tube rolling the Wright & ET products, playing with differect cable combos, playing with differect cartridges and looking into power conditioning, if desired. Oh yes, I suppose you could drop the phono stuff :-( and get SACD or a hot shot CD player...