Need some advice with new system

About CD players - You can't miss with the Cambridge D500 - I have one. Recently got a rave review by Sam Tellig in Stereophile. It's available from Toys from the Attic in White Plains, NY - tfta.com. TFTA is a great store and completely reliable - I shop there often. Tell Mario, Jim, or Bob that I sent you. Steve Cuskley

You say you're on a budget but not how much you want to spend, so I apologize if I miss the mark. You could look for a used pair of NHT's for speakers - the 2.5i can be had for about $700, the 2.9's for about $1200. They're made to be within a few inches of a wall, so placement is easy. They will definitely play as loud as you want to take them, have a very satisfying low end for relatively inexpensive speakers. They're differently shaped which might be a plus or a minus to you. Also, they're probably not the best if you want to fill a living room and be walking around the house - more appropriate for sitting and listening.

Hi, in the music category you mentioned, NAD makes a great CD player in the $500 range, I belive it is a model 400. Preamps, well nothing at all with the Adcom or NAD, or if you want to smooth out the system, pick up Audible Illusions Modulus, it plays forever, and is great with solid state amps. You can get a series 2 in the low hundreds and a 3 model in the high hundreds. Alos, PS Audio has some great older pieces that work very well, the PS4.6 works very well if you can find one. On speakers, I like the B&W's for rock, and you don't have to go to the Nautilis to get great sound on a budget. Also, as some others noted, the NHT 2.9 or 3.3 are astonishing on rock or home theater, great dynamics and don't sound hard except when really pushed, but can handle the current. Hope this helps!!