Good Audio System for Living Room

The Linn Classik offers compact quality, is very good sounding AND has a high WAF as it is one box that does all while not cluttering up the room. Used with tuner model can be found for around $1100. Axiom M3Ti (audioshop.on.ca)in black are quite good with this unit or even the Spendor SP3 for $895 new. By the time you add speaker stands you could be just over 2K and this system will be quite musical.

Ah, the living room problem. Three issues predominate:
1) There isn't room for racks and racks of equipment.
2) Speakers generally have to go closer to the wall than is good for them.
3) Room treatment meets interior decorating, and guess who wins.

For #1, keep it simple--an integrated amp and a one-box CD player (or DVD player, if there's a TV around). Stay away from Class A amps unless you want to use it as a warming tray. Tubes might not be the best choice either, but if you like them go for them.

As for #2, you must take positioning into consideration when you shop for speakers. I'd avoid rear-firing ports unless you can put them at least a few feet from the wall. Some speakers are designed to be more forgiving than others in this regard. I'd give a listen to the PSB line in particular, since they seem to understand better than most the real-world environments in which their products operate.

Room treatments are tricky but not impossible. Something absorptive behind the speakers (drapes, tapestry, etc.), diffusion behind the listeners and at the main reflection points along the sides. Open book cases make fine diffusors. Glass sucks.

Finally, I'd buy speakers before amp, to make sure the latter had enough oomph.

Here's what I use in my living room: ARC CA-50 tube integrated (about 45-50 watts; $1600 used), ProAc Response 1SC monitors on Sound Anchor stands (very narrow profile, placement not a problem for me at least in my room; $1350 used plus $400 for new stands), and Electrocompaniet EMC-1 CD player ($2400 used). This produces fabulous, warm, rich, detailed sound, i enjoy listening to this system as much as I do my BIG rig downstairs in my listening room. The EMC-1 is one of the best CD players out there but if it is too expensive even used, I would pick one of many great lower-priced one-box players and stick w/the CA-50 integrated and the ProAc monitors.

If you find a Rega dealer try an all Rega system. You MIGHT be able to improve by researching for hours, shopping around, looking for use bargains, but will it really be worth it? You decide. Rega makes good stuff, and if you like what the dealer plays you then get it. You'll probably get a very enjoyable system for around $2500.

One caveat .. make sure the dealer places the speakers a similar distance from the back wall to how you will use them in your living room as this makes a huge difference to how a speaker sounds.

To be more general (so you don't think I'm pimping Rega stuff) I think your best approach is to find a local audio dealer with a good reputation (start a separate thread) and go to them and tell them :

1) your budget
2) the size of the room
3) your listening tastes ... take your CDs or LPs with you.
4) Where the speakers must be placed.
5) where you must sit.

And ask for their recommendation of CD, amp, speakers, cables to fit in your budget. Demo it, and if it sounds great get it .. if you're not sure ask for a different combination or try a different dealer until you hear something you could live with.

Mcintosh, Proac, Rega, Arc ..... there are a gazillion manufacturers making great audio equipment, but making suggestions to you on this thread is a crapshoot, since not all components will work well together and not all will suit your room and / or taste in music.

If you want to spend 5-10 years searching for the pinnacle of hifi reproduction within your budget then stay on audigon and buy used equipment. However if you just want a great sounding hifi for reasonable outlays of time and money find a good dealer(s), take their recommendations and be sure to demo the whole system. Good luck.