Our guy asked about 3 pieces (int. amp ss, cd player and monitor speakers, maxed out at $2500. I would try to save 4-5 hundred bucks for some decent cabling and p. cords. So you have roughly 700 bucks to spend per component. Right?
I totally agree with the poster who says it is best to listen and buy what pleases your ears. But if you live in an area that makes that difficult and/or you don't have the time to commit and feel you have to rely on advice/reviews etc. to make a decision, here is a shortcut:
Blue Circle int. amp 21? ($800-1000) is a champ. IF you can find used but you may have to skimp elsewhere. But it would probably be a flagship piece you could live with for years. The Jolida CD player ($600-700 used)would allow you to change your sound by some tube rolling. You can't go wrong with these two coices but you have not much left for speakers and cabeling. Go with these two and either live with your current speakers of maybe pick up a pair of Epos M5s ($350 or so) and trade up later. For cabeling call Frank at signal cable and get his entry level PCs, speaker cable and interconnects. You should be very near budget if you follow this plan.
In the range of these components you can try a piece if you buy used and sell it later for roughly what you have in it and try something else. Lots of choices. Good luck and good listening!
I totally agree with the poster who says it is best to listen and buy what pleases your ears. But if you live in an area that makes that difficult and/or you don't have the time to commit and feel you have to rely on advice/reviews etc. to make a decision, here is a shortcut:
Blue Circle int. amp 21? ($800-1000) is a champ. IF you can find used but you may have to skimp elsewhere. But it would probably be a flagship piece you could live with for years. The Jolida CD player ($600-700 used)would allow you to change your sound by some tube rolling. You can't go wrong with these two coices but you have not much left for speakers and cabeling. Go with these two and either live with your current speakers of maybe pick up a pair of Epos M5s ($350 or so) and trade up later. For cabeling call Frank at signal cable and get his entry level PCs, speaker cable and interconnects. You should be very near budget if you follow this plan.
In the range of these components you can try a piece if you buy used and sell it later for roughly what you have in it and try something else. Lots of choices. Good luck and good listening!