Best system for the budding audiophile?

Here is a fourth for considering speakers as the starting point. Based on the description of your musical tastes and priorities for system sound character, I strongly recommend planars. Find a Magnepan dealer and demo the 1.6's, a good fit for your budget. Once you hear piano, voice, or guitar rendered by Maggies, you will look at dynamic (cone) speakers differently.

If the Maggies float your boat, then consider Bryston or McCormack amplification, as Maggies demand stout amplification with loads of current. A Conrad Johnson tube preamp and Rega Planet CD for the front end will round out what should be an extremely satisfying system within the confines of your budget.

Lets see, how about
BAT VK3i used at about $850-$1250 depending on +/- phono stage and/or remote
McCormack DNA 0.5 Rev B 100 wpc/8 ohms, used for about $850
Vandersteen 2cesigs or Maggie speakers used at about $1K
SONY 9000 or CAL CL-15 for about $700-$1000.
Balance for cables and ICs
or Substitute Vandersteen 3A sigs for about $2-2.2K, bump the amp up to a DNA 1.0 (185 wpc) for about $1K, and go with DH Labs T-14 Silver Sonic cables and BL1 ICs. Slightly over budget, but very musical sounding system, with plenty of bass and great timbre on acoustic instruments.

I put together the following system recently and I love it. All equipment was purchased used.

Proac Response 1.5's $1700
Threshold FET 2 pre amp $350 (amazing quality, inc phono)
Sonographe SA250 amp $500
VPI Jr w/RB600 $800
Clearaudio Aurum Beta S $350
SONY 333 ES SACD $350
Speaker and I/C cables $500

your mileage (and tastes) will very but this is a very satisfying system. I'm sure there are a million other combinations that you can assemble that would sound similarly good. You might also get a coopy of Stereophiles Recomended Components and use it as a guide to get you started.

I've just added a PS Audio P300 power conditioner as well to feed the system some clean juice but you don't need it to hear some wonderful things from the system.

Most of all... HAVE FUN

Phil

You could set up very nice Linn active (aktiv) system for under 5K. You should at least give it a listen. For jazz, piano, strings...IMO for everything, the Linn system does it better. It's errors are errors of omission - you won't find bloated bass or tinny highs here. Used Keilidhs-800$, 2 x LK140(amps)850$each, Wakonda(pre)-700$, Genki(CD)-1400(new), K400(Spkr cable) 100$, interconnects included with components. 4700$ total - for a simple, elegant AND AMAZING SOUNDING system. This is my current system. When I hear systems worth many, many times more, I often prefer the sound of mine, and very few systems in it's price range touch it. I agree about a REGA system, excellent value and quality. Also, Castle speakers, Joseph Audio, Audio Physic, Aerial acoustics, Totem, and some of the other British speakers mentioned at the top. - Speaker to avoid: B&W. (a British speaker that the Brits don't buy) - even the top of the line nautilus has a sound that is unrefined and seems to cater to generic tastes (boom&tizz).

Five thousand is 67% higher than three thousand but I submit a 5k system will not sound two thirds better than a three thousand dollar system. There is a diminshing return. That said,you might try this system:

Adcom 200 watt power amp about 5-6c used
Morrison ELAD pre amp about 5c used
Sony 333es cd player aaabout 5c used
Magnum Dynalab or Fanfare tuner 5-6c used.
a good antenna $50?
a pair of Magnepan 1.6qr s about 11-12c used

Your point about reviews in magazines that accept advertising is well taken. Try the reviews at audioreview.com. Disregard the reviews from obvious shills and children begging for attention. The tenor of the remaining reviews should give you a fair idea but, in truth, you won't know until you've listened for yourself.
Use the other two grand for cd s or rent.
Just my subjective opinion.

Happy hunting,
p