Looking to buy a complete 2 chanel system

Bwoodham...I think your request is too open ended to get useful feedback from folks here. Do you have local dealers in your area where you can go and audition different type of equipment? My suggestion is to go and listen to a bunch of different speakers (dynamic box designs, electrostats, planars), amps (both tube and solid state), digital sources, etc...and see if there are certain types of speaker designs or tube vs. solid state amplification that you find are more appealing to you. When you decide what types of speakers and amplification float your boat, and maybe if there were certain brands that you liked in combination with one another, I would come back and ask your question with a more directed focus. This way you will be able to get much more tailored advice to your specific tastes. Also, I wouldn't blow off the dealer route altogether. Establishing a relationship with a good dealer can pay dividends over time in building and improving your system over the long haul. You can always buy certain pieces from a local dealer and other pieces of Agon as well. One thing to look out for in terms of economizing and still buying through a dealer is used or demo equipment they may have on sale. The upside of demo equipment is that not only do you get a more aggressive discounted price but you usually still get warranty coverage as well, which you typically do not get buying used off of Agon. My 2c worth. Good luck.

Here is what I will do:

Mac Mini with 4G RAM $ 800
Pure Music software $ 130
A pair of 2TB Seagate FreeAgent
Desk HD for Mac USB2.0, FireWire 800
(1 for primary, 1 for backup) $ 400
iPad for remote $ 500

Benchmark DAC-1 HDR $1,900

Quicksilver Audio V4 120W mono $4,900/pair

Vandersteen Quatro $7,500/pair

Total $16,130

All prices are for new equipment. It will be lower of couse if you can buy
used.

That leave you $3,870 for rack and cable. I wouldn't go crazy on cable but it
is kind of like religion so it is up to you.

Almost forgot. In order to get the most out of a digital system, make sure you
put a ferrite snap-on core on each end of every USB, Firewire and power
cable.

thanks for your responses, I was hoping someone had it all figured out. After years of testing and trying, someone found the majic bullet. Save me all the "fun" . Like looking for a reference sytem to start, and then tweak it to my own liking. I don't know where to start. Find a front end and then find speakers or visa versa. Tubes seem like alot of work and maintenance (money).Looking for someone who's been there...done that. Or maybe someone that has a nice system for sale ????

bwoodham,
VMPS RM-30 speakers w/auricaps, megawoofers, fst tweeters, sound deadening, possibly upgraded exterior as upgrades. 2200.00-2600.00 used fantasically clear, dynamic sound like looking through a clean window.
Belles 150 Reference amp 1500.00-1700.00 used
Modwright 9.0 preamp 1100.00-1300.00 used
w/ phono pre 1850.00-2000.00 used
Modwright Oppo bdp-83 1450.00 new
or Modwright Sony 5400 about 2000.00 more new
Speltz anticable 80.00 new
Morrow MA-4 ic's 250.00 used
PS Audio 300 power conditioner 400.00-500.00 used
Adona 4-tier rack 1450.00 new
Absolute Audio Power Cords II 50.00 new/each from GTT Audio (makes every component sound better in every way)
Total about 10,000.00 or less for the system

Your system will work together, and have the ability to disappear while having great tone, detail, dynamics, TRANSPARENCY and your only problem will be lack of sleep from not wanting to stop listening. I have equipment put together very similarly and it's just awesome. The anticables are dirt cheap, don't look like much, but are great sounding--not just for the money, either (Absolute Sound recommended at the top for 5 years straight). VMPS speakers, with the upgrades I mentioned, are ridiculously good in all ways. The same with Modwright cd players and preamps/power amps. If you like big speakers, go with the VMPS RM-40 with the same upgrades. They are about 2500.00-3400.00 used. The 30's will probably sound better at lower volume but the 40's could really be cranked super loud.