$1500 system for a friend

Does your friend wish to purchase new or is he/she willing to enter the used market?

What is size of room where the system is to be placed? 

I would consider the Onkyo 7030 CD player at ~$150. A well built player, over 15lbs., with digital output allowing for DAC upgrade. 
Blue Jean cables are good at this price point. Also used Audioquest. 

1 - Done

2 - Great for your friend

3 - One of many good choices at there price point. Hard to recommend speakers due to subjectivity and environmental conditions. Is interest towards stand mount or tower type? How about room size? 

4- I recently purchased a Yamaha A-S701 integrated amplifier for a secondary system. It has coax and optical digital inputs, internal phonostage input, and 3 line level inputs. Subwoofer output, headphone jack, and outputs for 2 speaker pairs. Rated at 100wpc 8ohms. This amp is in current production and can be had for $700 (likely less). I find it to be very tonal neutral and with high resolution at it's price point. Manual provides rating into 4 and 2 ohm loads, I forget actual specs. Would drive Elacs well I believe. I have used mine with B&W 685s and CM5s. 
       I suggested the Onkyo 7030 CD player based on feedback from others, low price and robust build. Thinking of getting one to use as stand alone and as transport into the Yamaha's coax input.

5 - The Brio is a fine product, have heard one at a dealer a few years back. Don't remember the price.