Extremely budget minded system for under $500.00 ?

Here is a great system that I don't think can be beat for the money. It is a serious sound system. All component prices are quoted new, only the B&W speakers are quoted as used found here on Agon.

Art Sla 1 amp - $165 (One input for CD player). Sound is 80% of any amp I have owned from JC1 monoblocks to Marsh Sound. Has volume knobs.
100 watts per channel. Clean and wondeful sound. You can read on this amp here on Agon threads.

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-ART-SLA-1-Studio-Power-Amp-260Watts-in-1-Rack-Space_W0QQitemZ7375095294QQcategoryZ23787QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Toshiba 3950, 3960 CD/DVD player. I got mine for $50 at Best Buy. Best CD sound for this price.

B&W 601 speakers any version (MK I,II, III), $150 - $300.
Mission makes great monitors for little money also - used on Agon.

Audio Art IC's $39 - $69 (one meter RCA) The IC 1 is $39 and the IC-3 is $69. I use the IC-3 in my big $$ system as they replaced $700 IC's from Tara Tabs. Need Radio Shack 1/4" to RCA adaptors to use on the connection from Toshiba to Sla 1 amp. The Sla takes 1/4" and XLR inputs only. The adaptors cost $4 and work great.

Use Audio Art or Signal speaker cable - $50

This system will sound amazing and as good as many systems costing up to $3000. Again, I have heard it and have owned and heard many other systems - this one sounds fantastic and will please.A pre can be added later if more inputs are wanted.

Bill

Front end- Tosh 4960 or 3980. Both around $50 and incredible for the price.

I assume you are talking used, since that opens up the possibilities. I still have and enjoy a Fisher all-in-one 100wpc, 24 CD, dual tape unit. It is always reliable and sounds very tube like with it's monolythic output chip (probably 2nd order harmonics). So sometimes a musical sound is hiding where you would least expect it. It also saves on interconnects. At this price point I would definitely give the lion's share of the budget to the speakers since they establish the foundation and will reveal system upgrades as the audiophile adventure continues. Also good speakers will allow flat sound reproduction so the new listener won't be addicted to tone controls. It takes a lot of searching and listening a this price point to find audiophile potential. I've had great sucess with Infinity speakers from the 1980's, but the cosmetics will be a little rough at low prices. Of course if full range isn't nessessary, good 2 ways start around $100, so it depends on what type of listening and music is in play. It's a noble cause, best of luck in it, JAY