The $5000.00 Complete System Challenge

I give it a shot:
Speakers dunlavy sc3 Used 1200.00
Emotiva ERC-1 CD Player New 399.00
VTL ST150 Used 1800
Counterpoint SA3000 Used 750.00
Total 4149 leaving $$$ over for interconnects,speaker cables and ac cords.

Amp integrated:

Plinius 8100 or Sugden A21a about $1000
CD player CEC TL5100Z about $500
Phono amp Acoustech Ph1p or ph3 about $1000
Speakers Totem one or forrest about $2500

Done. Cables can be added later for now any copper wire will do.

If you are now talking about spending up to $5000 on speakers instead of several components, I would definitely look into Merlins. The latest TSMs (maybe even with a decent, inexpensive sub for just a little more bottom end) would be terrific. Another idea would be used VSMs. I believe, from years of experience with Merlins as well as other speakers, that the TSMs and VSMs are two of the most accurate, enjoyable speakers made. That makes upgrading from there so much easier!

Good luck!

Save yourself a lot of hassle,just get a Bose wave radio!!!

I second the Magnepan 1.6's; or, if you can stretch the $$$ and your room is large enough I would go with a good used pair of Magnepan 3.6's (IMHO, they are better in every way than the 1.6's or the 1.7's for that matter)...

A used NAD C275 BEE stereo amp will surprise you on how well it can drive a Magnepan and it sounds exceptional (especially for it's relative low cost used - about $750).

Any reasonable priced tube pre-amp; you want tubes in the rig somewhere.