Depends on room and budget...

MacIntosh make the best "ols school" tube amps, but you have to sell your 911 to afford one :)

I use Rotel amp for surround sound for home theater and the audio is really good, but it's running through B&W speakers, so again room and budget

Not an all-in-one system... but compact, good sound, cd player, remote, optional dock, and would fill a room with musical goodness.

NAD 715
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340824203.jpg

Quad Lite Sats and Sub
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340824438.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340824466.jpg

I used to sell Bang & Olufsen gear in the 70's-80's. Wonderful looking "plug & play" gear. Check out the BeoSound4

BeoSound 4 - Bang & Olufsen

My good friend works for Sonos and I got to tour his office in Santa Barbara...very cool stuff and they are coming out with even better stuff later this year.

BTW, they are hiring like gangbusters if anyone is interested. Being wireless, IT background is a must

Check out Klipsch.
I have experience in the company many times over. Even had 'cornerhorns'.
One of the top efficient speaker makers in the world! Cornerhorns, from what I can remember were -1 watt = 106 db.
A great speaker at a great price.

i thought my JBL L-300's are/were the best until i listened to the sonos. they don't look as good but sure sound good. Don't know the model but they were thin and tall.

Do you know the price on the record player?

I have tivoli products and agree they are well built. I love their styling and am a Bauhaus and mid-century style lover so I'm not sure why you made that comment but I understand taste is subjective and if u don't like how it looks then u shouldn't have to live with it. I love b&w stuff as well. Had b&w speakers for years and couldn't be happier with their products

I don't like Bose but it could be all you'll u need

No idea on price... I would email them.

info@symbolaudio.com

It very well could be all I need. It's not for me anyway. But the price point for Bose has always had me guessing. No more on that.

I'd like to spend less and get just a decent system that will play some background music that doesn't sound like it's coming out of a hole in the wall. No high volume, just mellow.

As your senior citizen resident here, I can admit we have tapes, CD's and vinyl. I'd at least like to be able to play the CD's. I copied a few, but we're down on computer power right now. Maybe one day I'll get into the 21 Century. I'd don't presently have dual drives on any computer and there are a few around here.

The best way to achieve what you want/need is to either buy one of those compact shelf systems from a store like best buy... The ones where everything is built into one unit with speakers that you can place where you want.

Or what I would prefer is to go out and buy, within your set budget, a cd player, amp, and small book shelf speakers and be done with it. Doesn't sound like your need to be spending thousands on a fancy stereo.

The fact is, if you were using an iPod for your source, you would have a lot more options for size, price and style. Perhaps you should make an effort to become comfortable with this technology now rather than later. I too have CDs and vinyl but like the convenience of my iPod. If u can work your iPhone's basic functions you can certainly learn how to use an iPod. You do not need a fancy computer to set it up, just the basics with an Internet connection will do

I kinda like this little guy, and it ticks most/all of your check-boxes (including different colors available):

MCR-140 - Mini-Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1340999958.jpg

Here are a few other offerings from them that might fit the bill:
TSX-130 - Desktop Audio - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States
ISX-800 - Desktop Audio - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States
MCR-730 - Mini-Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States
MCR-332 - Mini-Systems - Audio & Visual - Products - Yamaha United States

Just keep in mind that sound quality is going to be compromised with most any consumer mini/micro "system" so buy for features and asthetics. That said, stay away from the obvious garbage.
Typically classified as mini or micro systems, bookshelf systems, desktop audio, etc.

This is a wacky idea but I will throw it out there.

When I helped a friend move after her dad died there was an old Packard Bell stereo (IIRC) the console type where it is a nice furniture grade wood box where the lid in on a hinge and you open it to reveal a radio and record player, it is all tube powered, and has matching speakers.

I plugged it in and it worked!

I have held onto it because it is so cool... but I have no use for it.

If anyone is interested PM or email me.

It does have an AUX in with RCA connectors.

Sorry for the hijack, carry on.

You didn't read my list. USB port and iPhone dock. We have iPods, other devices and phones, all with music in them.

Theme music, like holiday music, is on CD's purchased ions ago. Once a year they come out for 2-3 weeks. The unit needs to follow the work at hand, but does not need to be self powered. Don't need the thing in the living room when the action is in the kitchen and vice versa.

Scottmandue, I have an old Grundig Majestic console and a large table model. They sound pretty good for their time. Not very portable, but I could see converting one or the other. They ain't that valuable.

I read the list

Here is what I do. I have my amp's aux or CD inputs connected to an A/B switcher. Plugged into A is my cd player. Plugged into B is my iPod. You don't need USB. You use a stereo RCA to mini plug cable to connect the mp3 player. If you don't want to connect the cable to the headphone jack on device, you can get an iPod dock that connects power to wall outlet and cable plugs into base of dock and takes music out of the bottom of the iPod. I'm talking about one of those small white docks you get at apple store. I'm on phone so can't post photo right now

re console type where it is a nice furniture grade wood box where the lid in on a hinge and you open it to reveal a radio and record player

put in some high end stereo stuff in that cabinet