Re:
Always amuses me how much LUCK is required with hifi seperates. I've never worked in the industry nor am i into electronics as such, therefore all my attempts at getting a decent sounding system have been a mix of press reviews, adverts, shop demos and listening to friends systems and LUCK - none of which have proved anything really. All seemingly varying in performance depending on music genre being played, room style and soft furnishings.
I was LUCKY in living near a decent s/h hifi shop in SE London for a while and the guy was happy for folk to go in and listen to whatever setups they wanted. I never spent that much money there, but did hear a lot and got some good deals. I''ve also been LUCKY in scoring some nice stuff (but nowhere near LGF LUCKINESS) from local recycling centre for next to nothing.
Main system remains Audiolab 8000 / Mission753 / Micromega Stage 3 CD and that's how its been for 15 years or so now despite dabbling with Linn, Musical Fidelity, Mordaunt Short and others - not mighty High End but does the job nicely thank you very much.
What's amusing me at the moment is a set of Musical Fidelity speakers which, at lowish volumes, sound *BORING* with the Audiolab but *EXCELLENT, SUPERB IN FACT* with the A&R A60 I got from the tip for £3 (ok so I had to wire a new mains lead on) Tis jolly good.
I did once, almost two decades ago, spend £100 on speaker cable which is apparently no more than copper wire coated with plastic. Never again.
***EDIT - nothing belts out rock better than the 753s though, nothing affordable anyway