Audiophile sound quality from a more "mainstream" company?

Rotel. My very first decent stereo some 20 years ago was from Rotel. I still remember it very fondly. It essentially made me appreciate and enjoy the hobby. It was a trio of RB-1080, RC-1070, and RCD-1072.

I have also gotten other Rotels over the subsequent years

Speakers:  Vandersteen 2i or 2Ce + REL Sub (MAYBE, but I think the Vandies can do bass on their own without subs), JBL, Polk Audio, or Wharfedales

Electronics:  Emotiva (I like their monoblocks on the Vandies, but the Emotiva monoblocks may be too powerful for the Vandies, but I think the Schiit monoblocks might be a better match for the Vandies, and I would put the Emotiva monoblocks on the Polk Audio's or GoldenEar's instead), otherwise, I'll go with either Sony ES, Pioneer Elite, Onkyo Integra or Grand Integra, Technics (now....  not their stuff from the 1980's) and Yamaha.
 

Thornes, Technics and Pro-Ject for Turntables.

In ANY case, a lot of sound for not a whole lot of money.

--Charles--

Oh yes, and NAD.

--Charles--

@carlsbad + 1 I like what sounds great in my space and with my gear.