budget component in high-end system?


Does anyone use a budget component in an otherwise high-end system? You always see reviews of budget components where the reviewers says the piece comes very close to things costing much, much more money. Does anyone use any of these so called "budget" components by choice? ex. $500 cd player with $10,000 amplification.
fruff1976
I see a lot of Sony Playstations being used as CDPs in fairly high end systems.
I keep many pairs of real world priced interconnects, speaker cables, and power cords for demonstration to prove that components, not wires, are the backbone of a good system.

Dealer disclaimer
I would have to say the Morrison Elad Preamp. I have gone through several amps and speakers in the last 6 years, but I am still impressed with it's lack of identifiable "sound". Having said that, I would still give it up for a McIntosh C200.
Not really a highend system, but in the home office/bedroom I'm using a Technics 5-disc changer as a transport, which cost $150 almost eight years ago. $3000 amp, $5k speakers, etc. The interconnects cost a few hundred more than the CD changer did. I do use the computer as the source more often though.
Audiofeil, which is more important, the heart or the network of veins and arteries? As a reviewer, I'd no more wish poor cabling on someone than for a person with a healthy heart to have Thrombosis.