building the best system I can?

It's interesting how many of you suggest integrated over seperates.

what if I used a mccormack dna-1 or 0.5 as main amp? Any suggestions on a pre amp? I have some money to spend so lets see what we can come up with. Thanks

Can't speak for anyone else, but I suggested Integrated since I thought your $5K was including a digital source. If I understand correctly, you are looking for an amp and preamp.
A McCormack amp would be an excellent choice. Then I would pair it with a tube preamp that has a low output impedance such as a Rogue. You would have power and bass slam with warm, lush sonics.

"Speakers sound like the amp running them,..."?

UnSound

Sorry but I'm not sure I understand You're question. Aré u suggesting I use different speakers?

Lowrider57

As far as seperates or intergrateds go I am open to all options. I was Just throwing out something suggested to me. I am intreged with the idea of using a tube pre amp with a ss amp or a tube intergrated. Aré these sinarios a good choice with the paradigms? As You can see you aré not alone in suggesting the intergrateded route.