Vacation Home System

NAD's L53 is an all-in-one receiver/DVD/CD player that performs well with music and movies. It sells for around $600 new but you can find refurbished units for less than $450.

http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-receivers/L53-DVD/CD-Receiver

As for speakers, PSB Alpha series would be an excellent choice and, even with wires and stands, you will be well under your $1000 total budget, even if you opt for towers.

http://www.psbspeakers.com/series.php?sId=4

Or, if space is a consideration, I highly...highly...recommend the Orb Audio sub/sat system, which gives full-range performance and looks fantastic. American made, too.

http://www.orbaudio.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=16

I have to admit, the Bose Acoustimass 3 and 5 aren't terrible either but the Orb system is a true audiophile speaker system for only about $100 and change more than the Orbs.

Here is my budget system in our second home at the lake:

Magnepan MMG (found at Goodwill in mint condion for $35 - pure luck)

NAD 80w/ch Receiver from the 1980s (eBay for $120)

Rotel RCD970 CD player (eBay)

Cables? The ones that I don't use anymore on the main system. (AQ type-4 speaker cable, can't remember what interconnect).

Whole system is well under $500 and is very listenable.

Monitor Audio RS6 used, Rotel separates used.