If your whole system costs $40,000....

I think a puccinni is overkill but a K01 is dead on.

Okay... How about $600.00 or so for a used NAD 565BEE as part of the following $40,000 system:

Linn Basik TT $550.00 used
NAD 565BEE CDP $600 store demo
Linn Klout Amp $1440 used
Linn Kairn PreAmp $650 used
Linn Kan IV Speakers $400 used
Audioquest Quartz ICs 1M pair X 2 = $200 used
Pangea 14SE PCs 2M X 3 = $210 NEW
Pangea 9SE PC 2M $180 NEW
Hydra-6 $650 used
BDR Cones for CDP and TT QTY: 6 = $120
Transparent Opus Speaker Cables 8’ Pair $35000 NEW

If you want to splurge, you might want to audition the Sony XA5400ES, which can be found for about $1100.

Hope that helps.

.
Well from Courant's calculations, we now know that if you have a $40k system, at least 85% of your system money should be spent on speaker cables.
.

The intent of the exercise was a bit subtler... You can ALWAYS create a "system" that conforms to some large dollar amount.

Spending well doesn't always mean spending more. Further, combining "parts" doesn't necessarily yield a "system."

Having an idea of what you're trying to create is more often a better route than simply spending more.

While spending $35K on wire for what would ordinarily be a $5K or so system is absurd, it also doesn't mean spending that much for speaker cable with a $150K system is appropriate or necessary either, contrary to what a "typical dealer" might try to tell you.

With the system I put together in the example, the expensive wire was obviously wrong. But, if my intent was to put together a Flat Earth system, the modestly priced NAD and Sony choices are also "wrong." Something like a Linn Ikemi or Naim CD5 would be better choices.

If you're ballparking a $40K budget because you want a specific high priced speaker or amp in the mix, then fine. For example, deciding first that you want Maggies or Sophias would then determine the Amps etc. Alternatively, you might select your sources first, and then back-chain to the power source and then the speakers.

Either way, you will likely be better served by determining an overall system objective and then framing the budget to best meet that objective.

I have spent about $31000. Including CD player. Simaudio Andromeda (about $12000 at the time). So CD player 38%. Contrary to some opinions, it made my music at a more emotional level than before (compared to Simaudio Eclipse also very good). Simaudio Eclipse not included in total above, it would be $36000 then.

I listened to many CD players including much cheaper ones before deciding. Over 3 years. thanks.

Bill