OMG Erik, I wish I had $10K to put together a system! My systems, and I've been at this for about 30 years are always super musical and always way less then $10K. I'm a giantkiller type of guy, and love to put budget components together that slay the ultra expensive gear or at least can go toe to toe with much more expensive gear.
For me, I could happily live with the following and feel like I'm not missing out on anything:
1. Jeff Korneff 45 or 45 int - $2K-2500
2. Naim cd 3.5, Proceed PCD-2 or Rega Planet cd player - $3-500
3. 3 head cassette deck (HK, Aiwa F990 or Nak) - $3-500
4. Rega 25 TT - $7-800
5. Omega single driver speakers - $1K
6. Analog tuner like a Tandberg or Sansui TU717, etc - $2-400
Alternatively, a 2A3, 300B or a Berning EA230 with Music Reference pre, Magus or Counterpoint 5.1 or 3.1 preamp or perhaps cj MV50 and PV5 or push pull 6bq5 tube int up to $1K with ProAc super tablettes, Response 1's, Epos ES14's or Rogers, etc - lots of choices here, but for $1000-1500, I could do some serious amplification in a tube int or SS amp and tube preamp
A Thorens, classic Yamaha or Kenwood TT would do as well.....
I could easily live on a $5K system and use the other 5K on nicer furniture too.....I left out IC's and speaker wire in these scenarios.
For me, I could happily live with the following and feel like I'm not missing out on anything:
1. Jeff Korneff 45 or 45 int - $2K-2500
2. Naim cd 3.5, Proceed PCD-2 or Rega Planet cd player - $3-500
3. 3 head cassette deck (HK, Aiwa F990 or Nak) - $3-500
4. Rega 25 TT - $7-800
5. Omega single driver speakers - $1K
6. Analog tuner like a Tandberg or Sansui TU717, etc - $2-400
Alternatively, a 2A3, 300B or a Berning EA230 with Music Reference pre, Magus or Counterpoint 5.1 or 3.1 preamp or perhaps cj MV50 and PV5 or push pull 6bq5 tube int up to $1K with ProAc super tablettes, Response 1's, Epos ES14's or Rogers, etc - lots of choices here, but for $1000-1500, I could do some serious amplification in a tube int or SS amp and tube preamp
A Thorens, classic Yamaha or Kenwood TT would do as well.....
I could easily live on a $5K system and use the other 5K on nicer furniture too.....I left out IC's and speaker wire in these scenarios.