Thanx for your honesty! As much as I realize that I won't get optimum performance from a mini-system, I am somewhat limited in space. That being said, I'm always open to any advice from those more versed in component audio than I am these days. It's been some time since I followed the progress of audio developments, "making do" with a low-level boombox. (It's where I was at at the time...) Anyhoo, I'm curious as to how you all decided on your components, given all the options out there. Yes, I know: read the specs & listen, listen, listen, right? Can you give me any ideas on a decent CD/Tuner/Amp + bookshelf speaker combo that would fall into the price range of the mini-systems I mentioned?