Being a student, at a private college, I don't exactly have a lot of spare cash. But I think I've assembled a pretty good system that works for my tastes. I used to have a Phase Linear 400 II power amp and a Marantz preamp but recently I got the tube bug and bought a pair of those mega cheap ASL tube amps unheard. Wow! Solid-state never again. Also, the increased impedance let's me run my CDP right into the amps. I still might get a Foreplay though for better volume control. I stuck with a universal "bargain" and bought a Marantz CD-67SE off AudioAdvisor for $250. For xmas I got the Axiom M22Tis. Very nice. Amazing what $400 buys these days. I bought the Lovan stands this spring and boy was I amazed what a good set of stands can do. At $79 a pair I don't understand why anyone wouldn't be using these sand-fillable stands instead of cheap wood ones. I think my next upgrade will be either a Foreplay preamp, the Jon Risch DIY power conditioner, or some new DIY interconnects.