I have read many reviews on "Audiophile" gear over the past five years. One thing I have noticed, most of the gear cost BIG BUCKS. And what you hear from this high-dollar gear is not much better than the mid-fi gear. I have listen to the gear at the dealers show room and at home in my den. Yes, I can hear more music detail from the high-dollar gear (but on a scale of 1 to 10, most of the time it is only about a 2 or 3 points) better than the mid-fi gear.
** NOW THAT I GOT THAT OUT OF THE WAY **
One could "INVEST" in great sounding gear used or on close-out like I did.
1. Klipsch Forte II, speakers (used) $600
2. Dynaco ST-70 amp {tube} (used) $200
3. Dynaco PAS-3 pre-amp {tube} (used)
Dynaco FM-3 tuner {tube} (used) $175
4. Marantz CD-67SE cd-player (close-out) $292
5. Straight Wire "Encore II" interconnects
and speaker wire (30% off of retail).
The best part is it sounds BEAUTIFUL, LIKE MAGIC IN THE AIR. And if I want to find new magic I can sell it all for what I paid for it and more (thats the INVESTMENT part). I am an accountant I always look at cost, trust me (ask my wife...)
p.s. I like "Dynaco" and tube gear, but I have seen and heard different brands of gear both solid-state and TUBE (the best) that sound good. So check out the "Audioweb" or "E-bay" web-sites Good Luck.