Maybe not ideal or what you are looking for but my kitchen system sounds incredible and especially considering what it cost.
The speakers are Insignia NS-B21111 Bookshelf Speakers from Best Buy. I paid $35 for them 2 years ago. The amp is a Lepai Tripath Amp from Parts Express. It's 20wpc and it's cost was $19.95. My sources include my Ipod or a DVD Player from Best Buy called Dynex DX-DVD2. Cost: $29. I'm also using an old Audio Alchemy Dac-n-The Box and I don't remember what it cost when it was new, well over 10 years ago. The cables are whatever I had laying around, including a pair of Nordost Blue Heaven Interconnects and home made speaker cables.
This is far less money that you are prepared to spend but it certainly sounds great. The amp/speaker combo is perfect. I have 3 high end systems in my home with brands including Magnepan, Vandersteen, ARC, Quicksilver, Audible Illusions,Benchmark,Basis, LessLoss, Shunyata,Bryston, Snell,Counterpoint, etc. In other words I have good sound elsewhere in my home and this cheap little kitchen system is a marvel to listen to as well.
The speakers are Insignia NS-B21111 Bookshelf Speakers from Best Buy. I paid $35 for them 2 years ago. The amp is a Lepai Tripath Amp from Parts Express. It's 20wpc and it's cost was $19.95. My sources include my Ipod or a DVD Player from Best Buy called Dynex DX-DVD2. Cost: $29. I'm also using an old Audio Alchemy Dac-n-The Box and I don't remember what it cost when it was new, well over 10 years ago. The cables are whatever I had laying around, including a pair of Nordost Blue Heaven Interconnects and home made speaker cables.
This is far less money that you are prepared to spend but it certainly sounds great. The amp/speaker combo is perfect. I have 3 high end systems in my home with brands including Magnepan, Vandersteen, ARC, Quicksilver, Audible Illusions,Benchmark,Basis, LessLoss, Shunyata,Bryston, Snell,Counterpoint, etc. In other words I have good sound elsewhere in my home and this cheap little kitchen system is a marvel to listen to as well.