What system components would you buy if...........

Getting too many components in my system like preamp to amp, cd transport to dac, turntable, tuner, and tape player in addition to extra preamp as a backup, I wish to have a very simple system. The system I have in mind would be:
Pathos Twin Integrated
Audio Note Integrated CD Player maybe 3.1X
Opera SP3 Speakers
Kimber Cables-Interconnect & Speaker Cables
The total costs is going to be much lesser than what I have now.

I'm with Ohlala. I'd love to try a lower powered triode with a high efficiency horn speaker.

Living in Nashville, I appreciate Davehrab's wife's comment. :o)

The grass is always greener...

If held to a similar budget:
Merlin VSM speakers; Atma-sphere M60 MkII amps; Bent Audio transformer pre-amp; Hagerman Trumpet phono amp; Teres 255 TT w/ Expressimo arm & Shelter 501(?) cartridge; Sony 777ES SACD; Cables - not sure what would work best but would start with trying Cardas or Van Den Hul or Acoustic Zen.

If I won the lottery budget:
Rockport Hyperion or Kharma Exquisite speakers; Tenor 75w Amps; Boulder 2010 pre and 2008 phono amps; Rockport Sirius III TT; Clearaudio Insider or Koetsu Onyx Platinum cartridge (or both, to play depending on my mood); Audio Aero Capitole II CDP; Modified Sony xa777ES SACD; Nordost Valhalla cables or Purist Dominus or Transparent Opus or Siltech G5, depending on which sounded best; a dedicated listening room.

Twl:

WOW "Twl", this makes for an interesting thread. A fun one too, I might add:

But now, if I didn't had my current system, and I had to build a new system from scratch with the budget range I am working with right now (from $5,000.00 to about $15,000.00), then here's what I would spend my doe on:

Speaker System: Vandersteen 2Ce Signatures (endcaps in lacquered cherry or rosewood)
Power Amplifier: McCormack Power-Drive DNA-0.5 (Special Edition)(used)
Preamplifier: McCormack ALD-1 (Special Edition)(used)
FM Tuner: Magnum Dynalab Etude (with gold face plate)(used)
FM Antenna Amplifier: Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth
FM Antenna: Magnum Dynalab ST-2
Compact Disc Player: Sony SCD-777ES (used)
D/A Processor/Converter: Musical Fidelity A3 (for redbook CD playback)
Phono Stage: AcousTech PH-1 (Special Edition)
Turntable/Arm System: VPI TNT Jr./JMW Memorial 10.5
Phono Cartridge: Grado Reference Master
Cables: MIT Shotgun Series (both interconnects and speaker cables)
Power Protection and Conditioning: PS Audio Power Plant P-1200

But now, if I were to either come across an inheritance from a rich relative or should I ever win the lottery, then this is what I would blow my riches on:

Speaker System: Sonus Faber Amati Homage (in maple)
Power Amplifier: Mark Levinson No.33H Monoblocks
Preamplifier: Mark Levinson No.32 Reference
FM Tuner: Magnum Dynalab MD-108 Tube/Solid-State Hybrid Tuner
FM Antenna Amplifier: Magnum Dynalab Signal Sleuth
FM Antenna: A Professionally Installed Roof Antenna
Compact Disc Player: Accuphase DP-85
Phono stage: Aesthetix lo (Signature Version with its own volume control)
Turntable/Arm System: VPI TNT V-HR/JMW Memorial 2.2
Phono Cartridge: Clearaudio Discovery
Cables: Cardas Neutral Reference (both interconnects and speaker cables)
Power Cords: Cardas Golden Reference
Power Protection and Conditioning: Equi=Tech Model 5Q

These components just listed would be the ones I would buy today if I didn't already have a system installed in my residence, and if I were to put together an audio system from scratch. Both, a "real world" system and a very expensive "super" system are both listed. And those would be the systems I would assemble if I again, did not have a system already installed in my home, and would buy if I had to make due with a "real world" system, as well as the system I would buy if I was rich.

Now.......... was that fun or what?????

--Charles--

Okay, I guess it's my turn to divulge my alternate choices.

If I didn't have the Teres, I'd buy either a
Redpoint Audio TestaRossa, or a
Progressive Engineering turntable.
(Cost no object, would be a Walker Proscenium)

If I couldn't have a OL Silver arm, I'd get an
OL Encounter
(Cost no object would be the arm included on the Walker)

If I had to change cartridges from my Shelter 501, I'd buy a
Shelter 901
(Cost no object would still be a Shelter 901)

If I didn't have the Cotter MkII step up, I'd get a
Shelter 411 Step up transformer
(Cost no object would be a Expressive Technologies SU-1)

If I didn't have the MFA Magus preamp, then I'd get a
Counterpoint SA-5000 (if cost were no object, I'd get an Aesthetix IO phono section with volume controls)

If I didn't have the custom Berning amp,anything in the world would be a step down, but I guess I'd get a
Berning Siegfried Single ended 811 amp
(Cost no object would be the amp I have now, Berning custom)

If I couldn't have Lowther Voight Pipes, I'd buy the
Lammhorn 1.8 with AER drivers.
(Cost no object would be Lammhorn 1.8 with Reps-1 drivers.)

How's that?
Fun, huh? Decisions, decisions!