Best $500 System?

I have this as my desktop system:

source: iPhone or MacPro or PC with an Audioquest Black (new version) microDAC 
https://www.wifihifi.ca/LatestNewsHeadlines/Hands-OnReview:AudioQuestDragonFlyBlack1.5/Red.html


into active speakers KANTO YU-6 or YU-5
note; these have a killer Bluetooth operations option if she has placement or access issues.

https://www.wifihifistore.com/news/2017/2/4/kanto-yu6-and-yu4-powered-speakers

These KANTO active speakers are real audio Goliath slayers with a further option of a direct subwoofer output and they also have a phono preamp built-in .
https://www.wifihifistore.com

The older model YU-5s are cheaper if the TT features are a no-go and they have an auxiliary

http://www.kantoliving.com/product/yu5/

https://9to5mac.com/2016/07/05/review-kanto-yu5-powered-bookshelf-speakers-bluetooth/

Google the stellar reviews and YouTube reviews.
E.g https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7Pkp0Gha66U

Now with the ONKYO HF hi-Rez audio player app (a cheap download ) she can play digital,streaming on TIDAL or downloaded digital at 24 bit/ 96khz FLAC hi-Rez quality. The CD quality 16bit/44.1khz rips also sound fabulous 

FWIW...