Is there any such thing as a high end receiver?

I am putting together a system for a friend who knows nothing about electronics, has no technical skill, but is a professional acoustic musician and likes sound that is smooth and sweet above all else. I intend to find her some LS3/5a's and maybe a tube cd player and I don't want to burden her with amps, preamps, tuners, interconnects and the whole rigamerole. Therefore, my question: Anyone know of a receiver (under, say, $750 used) that sounds sweet a la e.g. a Grado cartridge or LS3/5a's? Do all receivers sound like Sony's?