A lot depends on what is meant by "a real good system. not over kill, just good equipment, good sound stage." The word "good" is highly subjective. Any Yamaha, Denon, Sony, Bryston, Mcintosh, B&W, Paradigm, ATC, etc. equipment will be good equipment - this is particularly true for the first three companies as their resources so outstrip the specialty companies that it costs little extra to ensure good equipment and the risk to their reputation precludes manufacturing junk.
As to the sound at all but the highest listening levels, my listening experience is that there is very little difference between a $2000 system made up of a budget CD player, monitor speakers, and a receiver (yes a reciever) and a $50,000 system. The differences are almost entirely in soundstage and accuracy and those I have found to be 99 percent dependent on the speaker. So, a good digital system can be had for $2000 a slightly better system for around $20,000. After that the returns are extremely small. But, of course, the hobby aspect tends to drive the system up but that is a different type, although very legitimate, type of return. Finally, the status aspect is completely dependent on cost, but also is a different type of return.
As to the sound at all but the highest listening levels, my listening experience is that there is very little difference between a $2000 system made up of a budget CD player, monitor speakers, and a receiver (yes a reciever) and a $50,000 system. The differences are almost entirely in soundstage and accuracy and those I have found to be 99 percent dependent on the speaker. So, a good digital system can be had for $2000 a slightly better system for around $20,000. After that the returns are extremely small. But, of course, the hobby aspect tends to drive the system up but that is a different type, although very legitimate, type of return. Finally, the status aspect is completely dependent on cost, but also is a different type of return.