Best $500 System?


I have a good friend who is going through a lot of stress including financial and health and misses her music. Any thoughts on a "system" that would play CD's only all inclusive including speakers and amps new or used that might give her decent quality music in her home? she is sensitive to clean highs and does not need very loud or deep bass.
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Sorry to hear that your friend is going through a rough time. Music is certainly good medicine. Is she interested in a casual, soothing background music experience, or sitting in the sweet spot in a dark room and doing active listening?
The DVD player I have has HDMI and then component out. I like Nuforce, have their reference 20 mono amps myself in the big rig
Bet those Reference 20s sound good!
Too bad there isn't a digital audio out of your CD player. Often a digital coax output is nestled among the component connections. The nice thing about the NuForce/Pioneer/DVD/CD system is that it's all new, with current technology and warranties. 
If you do need to go the DVD player route, there are a wide variety of prices & capabilities. At the upper end,($45-80), the DVD players have higher video resolution and streaming capability (if she wants to take advantage of the video capabilities),and still be below $500 total.
FYI (for down the road)-Last Christmas season, authorized dealers were running the compact Pioneer SW-8 MK2 subwoofer for $99 on Amazon. It's  a great match with the Pioneer bookshelf system. From your first post, it doesn't sound like she is focused on bass performance, but when you add the sub, tuned to a barely perceptible level, the combo becomes ridiculously good from top to bottom. In addition to a line level subwoofer out, the NuForce has an analog input so you can run a turntable at a later date , (with an outboard phono preamp). You can also use your CD connected to the analog inputs, without running it through the NuForce's DAC if you are really trying to save money.
Parts Express has a 24" steel stand for $55 pair that work well with the Pioneers.
Bet those Reference 20s sound good!
Too bad there isn't a digital audio out of your CD player. Often a digital coax output is nestled among the component connections. The nice thing about the NuForce/Pioneer/DVD/CD system is that it's all new, with current technology and warranties. 
If you do need to go the DVD player route, there are a wide variety of prices & capabilities. At the upper end,($45-80), the DVD players have higher video resolution and streaming capability (if she wants to take advantage of the video capabilities),and still be below $500 total.
FYI (for down the road)-Last Christmas season, authorized dealers were running the compact Pioneer SW-8 MK2 subwoofer for $99 on Amazon. It's  a great match with the Pioneer bookshelf system. From your first post, it doesn't sound like she is focused on bass performance, but when you add the sub, tuned to a barely perceptible level, the combo becomes ridiculously good from top to bottom. In addition to a line level subwoofer out, the NuForce has an analog input so you can run a turntable at a later date , (with an outboard phono preamp). You can also use your CD connected to the analog inputs, without running it through the NuForce's DAC if you are really trying to save money.
Parts Express has a 24" steel stand for $55 pair that work well with the Pioneers.