Best home stereo system under $2000?

Hey all, I'm looking for a good home stereo system. I would like to stay under $2k, but of course less is better if I get the same quality. I rarely watch movies, so it will be mainly music 99% of the time. I listen to a little of everything, but mainly country and blues with classical thrown in. I'm interested in clarity and quality of sound more than out right volume. Any and all info/tips are appreciated!

 

I looked at a system last night. I'm normally not a Sony fan for high end stuff, but I felt this one sounded pretty good. Anyone have input for something that sounds as good or better in this price range? I played some Muddy Waters off my phone and I was impressed.

https://www.bestbuy.com/cart

 

Find some speakers you like, I enjoy my Bose 301s

what items are a must? CD, Bluetooth, record player.

I am not a Sony fan, but do like Onkyo.

 

Can’t tell what you put in your cart.

 

Consider used audiophile equipment. I picked up an amazing pair of 20 year old B&W 803 speakers for $1500 a couple years ago and damn, they are the best sounding speakers I've ever hear outside of a stereo store. Even with a $500 receiver they sound great. Then save up for a better amp later if you really need it.

 

Bluetooth is a must. Record player and CD player would be nice, but not a necessity. I think I have maybe a dozen CD'S from my younger days. lol

 

What do you Bluetooth, MP3s?

 

Sorry, I'll list it here:
STRDN1080 receiver
All Sony Core series speakers: 2 floor, 2 bookshelf, 1 center, and the Sony sub. Total came out to $1500. I've looked for used stuff around here ,but everyone is selling junk for WAY more than it is worth. Usually a mini shelf system.

 

I play Spotify and Pandora off my phone. I've got a very large library of mp3's on my home computer, but would have to figure a way of getting them to the receiver.

 

I’ve had a Sony system long time ago, I enjoyed it, I’ve had custom built speakers also sounded good, but we picked up the 301s last year and what a difference.

 

Consider using a hard drive that will hook up to the receiver

 

I'll have to look into that. I've got something close to a 100 GB of music. It would be nice to put that collection to use. I don't have any good audio stores near me unfortunately, as I really like to listen to what i am buying before I buy it.

 

I ran out of room on my iPod classic long ago, before they were the classic.

 

Have you ever checked out Audiogone?
It's like the ebay of high end audio.
You can get real used equipment for a good price, and as for bluetooth, you can get a separate unit such as an Apple TV to receive the signal and send it to the stereo. You don't NEED a receiver with it built in.
Yes, you can get an ok new stereo in the 2k budget, but you can get a fantastic used system for the same price.

 

That part is the easiest and least expensive part of the equation.

 

I am streaming HD off of Amazon Music. Full CD bit rate not 256K etc.

 

I stream from Amazon Music: WiFi from the router to the MacMini, HDMI cable from MacMini to Preamp (fancy receiver without amp)

 

But it adds to the price, more than the pretty standard Bluetooth capable receiver now a days. Also, why add another item in the chain if it’s not needed?

I have lots of devices, and prefer to just go direct to receiver.

 

All I have is my Apple TV connected to my integrated amp that drives my basement speakers, and acts as a preamp to my Bryston power amp that drives the 803s. It's a clean system and sounds fantastic.

 

I've gone the route of a 5.1 with good speakers without surround hooked up. I have an Onkyo TX-NR626 and a pair of R162BK speakers with a SUBR10BK subwoofer. It sounds really good to my ears, especially for the price. The receiver also does bluetooth, pandora, spotify, internet radio, etc natively as well. My strategy if I were doing it again would be to find a receiver with solid reviews and plenty of power for not a ton of money, and then spend the rest of my budget on good speakers.