Ah, the living room problem. Three issues predominate:
1) There isn't room for racks and racks of equipment.
2) Speakers generally have to go closer to the wall than is good for them.
3) Room treatment meets interior decorating, and guess who wins.
For #1, keep it simple--an integrated amp and a one-box CD player (or DVD player, if there's a TV around). Stay away from Class A amps unless you want to use it as a warming tray. Tubes might not be the best choice either, but if you like them go for them.
As for #2, you must take positioning into consideration when you shop for speakers. I'd avoid rear-firing ports unless you can put them at least a few feet from the wall. Some speakers are designed to be more forgiving than others in this regard. I'd give a listen to the PSB line in particular, since they seem to understand better than most the real-world environments in which their products operate.
Room treatments are tricky but not impossible. Something absorptive behind the speakers (drapes, tapestry, etc.), diffusion behind the listeners and at the main reflection points along the sides. Open book cases make fine diffusors. Glass sucks.
Finally, I'd buy speakers before amp, to make sure the latter had enough oomph.
1) There isn't room for racks and racks of equipment.
2) Speakers generally have to go closer to the wall than is good for them.
3) Room treatment meets interior decorating, and guess who wins.
For #1, keep it simple--an integrated amp and a one-box CD player (or DVD player, if there's a TV around). Stay away from Class A amps unless you want to use it as a warming tray. Tubes might not be the best choice either, but if you like them go for them.
As for #2, you must take positioning into consideration when you shop for speakers. I'd avoid rear-firing ports unless you can put them at least a few feet from the wall. Some speakers are designed to be more forgiving than others in this regard. I'd give a listen to the PSB line in particular, since they seem to understand better than most the real-world environments in which their products operate.
Room treatments are tricky but not impossible. Something absorptive behind the speakers (drapes, tapestry, etc.), diffusion behind the listeners and at the main reflection points along the sides. Open book cases make fine diffusors. Glass sucks.
Finally, I'd buy speakers before amp, to make sure the latter had enough oomph.