Looking to build a system for under $5k

I will repeat this xlnt advice for emphasis:

"use half your budget for the speakers"

I suggest a used solid state amp to drive your Vandersteen speakers.  They are fine speakers and you can buy now if in a hurry.

for the amp, maybe a Hafler?

I also like the Oppo player for this - lots of used ones as people upgrade.  You may be able to get by with no pre-amp.  

Do NOT waste your money on any sort of expensive cables.

Also take a look at Cambridge Audio equipment; Rotel; and similar.

Marantz and Yamaha make good receivers if you decide to go that direction.

Try to save some money out for room treatments - much of which can be DIY - I've posted some links before on other threads.

One advantage is your room is non-square...

Time to listen to 1.7i Maggies.

It took me several months to decide between older Maggies and older Vandies (in 1995) ...

Vandersteen is good; also listen to the Maggie 1.7i

buy a good amp that can drive the speakers well; buy a pre-amp with the control functionality you need or want, and a CD player or DAC (Oppo is good and inexpensive + there are many used ones)

ignore the tweekers trying to get you to waste money on cables

you have a good system on order and can now sit back and enjoy listening

next thing is to address your source material - the Redbook CD std. will be fine but be sure you have the best recording/mastering chain for things you care about

in general, CDs released within a few years of the beginning of the CD std. (say the 1980s) will be of poor quality

similar concerns apply for streaming...

also curious but a new thread would be best...