Lots of good recs here, and the NAD theme is a good one. Buying used on the Gon for $1000, a system that would be amazing for acoustic music and get the midrange right for everything:
Spendor S3/5 ($500)
NAD C325BEE ($275-300)
Oppo 970/980 ($125)
Cables from Markertek (~$50)
Like the front-ported KEFs mentioned above (I had the Q15s in my first 1K system, and they kept me happy for 10 years) the sealed Spendors would give flexible placement options should your friend need to set them up on a shelf or near a wall--often a reality for people getting started in the hobby. Plus, the Spendors are tiny and beautifully made. A set of speaker stands and a cheap sub would be an easy upgrade path down the road.
Spendor S3/5 ($500)
NAD C325BEE ($275-300)
Oppo 970/980 ($125)
Cables from Markertek (~$50)
Like the front-ported KEFs mentioned above (I had the Q15s in my first 1K system, and they kept me happy for 10 years) the sealed Spendors would give flexible placement options should your friend need to set them up on a shelf or near a wall--often a reality for people getting started in the hobby. Plus, the Spendors are tiny and beautifully made. A set of speaker stands and a cheap sub would be an easy upgrade path down the road.