Want to setup basic home audio system

I literally just did this in the past month with a good friend of mine who bought his first house. Starting from scratch and similar budget. Here is what we came up with.

Yamaha A-S301 integrated - $350 new
Monitor Audio Bronze 2 speakers - $400 new
SVS SB1000 sub - $250 used
Echo Dot as a source -$29

A few cables and speaker stands from Amazon for around $100 and a few donated items (sub cable, speaker cables from my bone yard) and he is under $1200 all in.

It sounds surprisingly good for less than I have in my MC cartridge. He uses the echo dot to stream Amazon music and spotify. The yamaha also has digital inputs so we have his smart TV hooked up as well. He is pleased as can be.

Good luck figuring your system out.

ovinewar:
You’re awesome for checking out CL Seattle to find good deals. I’ll be honest I probably just pass them by when I check out CL or offermeup since I don’t know much of speakers or amps. You got me checking out those Klipsch quartets specs. It helps that it’s easy to drive speakers. Thanks for all your help!

mahler123:
I was on the fence about whether I want to just go that route since I find cheap used gear all over the internet. I’m not too sure if I need all those other channels though.

crustycoot:
That’s also a great route but I have no knowledge or education on soldering. Also, do they do that for all speakers? Seems like you can save hundreds on a pair.

mesch: 
I certainly learned a lot from reading your replies! For now, I need to be looking at high efficiency speakers and an amp compatible. It also helps that some of these gear have a good resell value when I want to start swapping things out or adding gears into my collection. Thanks again!

jollygreenaudiophile2: 
I spent all morning looking up those amps and they still go for 4-500 each. How low are we talking? Would you take shipping charge?

glupson:
WOW! You weren’t joking at all. It also helps that this is the first forum ever that have people offering real help and opinions without judging or making me feel unwanted. You definitely helped start this on my thread. Thanks for that!!

thecarpathian:
There is indeed so many choices. Everyone has been helpful and informative that I learned more just on this thread than reading a bunch of articles on the internet. Thanks again for offering your 2 cents and your recommendations! I really like those ascend speakers a lot!!

veroguy:
That audiophilia channel on YT recommends the Klipsch speakers you mentioned. I am hoping I can demo them at Best Buy or another local audio shop. 
bob540:
At this point, I cannot go over 1.5k and would like to stay within that price range. Give or take 100 for accessories. Otherwise I wouldn’t hear the end of it from my wife. 
mapman:
im curious if there’s auto shows out here in Washington. Also, the speakers you mentioned has their hq out here in Washington!

rcalderon:
I’ve decided that I will be focusing on speakers first and then an amp or bt adaptor second. Thanks!

diripio,

Yes, I have personally owned the ascends and can state quite confidently that they are a true bargain at their used price.
To  get a bamboo cabinet, a custom SEAS driver and a Raal ribbon tweeter for their used price is quite a deal.

If you already have a laptop or mobile phone you have your streamer. Add an IFi zen blue for$169 and you are up and streaming in hi res.