Hello.

My name is Rudy and I have been researching an audiophile grade system for myself for just a bit over a month or so. The system will be for musical reproduction only, no home theater duties. I have been reading these forums, to get a basic understanding of what's out there before posting a set of questions that have already been asked a thousand times. I've also tried a Stereophile magazine however, I quickly realized that they only review things at the very upper end of audiophile world. My few brief stops at AudioAsylum left me with the impression of the exact opposite, that they concentrate of consumer grade or beginner audiophile systems.
Anyway, to get to the point of my post. Reading several threads on these forums as well as a blog article linked by Ajani in the Why we need Audiophiles thread. I noticed several people on this board as well as Michael Fremer stating that one does not need large/huge/enormous amounts of money to put an audiophile system together. Now Michael Fremer actually named the amount albeit not the components that would make up that amount. Which is unfortunate as I, for one, would have loved to see what they are. So this leads me to you guys. Here is a thread where you get to put together an entire system from scratch. Everyone is welcome to contribute, of course, not just the people who have said that you don't need enormous amounts of cash to build an audiophile system. I realize that the enormous amounts of money is subjective, so I will leave the final amount up to you.
One thing that will help me, and anyone else reading this thread later, is if the folks posting would state their biases/prejudices and such. Be they sentimental or budget related or musical style or bass style or many many others that we carry around in our inner pockets. This will help me frame what you are suggesting and see how it relates to me. Another thing that will help me a lot is if you state whether you have first hand experience with what you are recommending or whether it is a product of research or something entirely different. So here are the categories:
1. Preamp if separate from amp of course.
2. Amp
3. Speakers
4. Sources (List as many as you like. At the end you may include just one in the final price tally or all)
5. Cables
6. Misc (Whatever I may have missed as a category )

For each category it would be great to get some background as to why you selected this particular component over others that you compared them against. And if there are biases/prejudices that are specific to that component it would be great to see them as well. Apologies if I am asking for too much, but the more info I gather the more informed will my auditions be, even if I choose to do blind auditioning. You may quote new or used prices, or better yet both. Forum rules permitting even a link to where the particular component sells for a good price is always welcome.

Thank you in advance and take your time, as I don't plan to rush this kind of purchase.
Rudy