Opinions needed; which is a better choice and why?

I understand the motivation to save lots of money by shopping here on Audiogon, but, if you find an Audio shop that gives you good service and has the products you want, please consider purchasing the products there. The better brick and mortar retailers need your support. I for one feel it is in bad form to use up the time and energy of a salesman or two, to just use them to find out what you like and shop elsewhere. If on the other hand you cannot find a good retailer or find one that has the products you want but does not proviode good service, then by all means purchase the products where you like.
Just my two cents.

So Meby you got $3500 to spend. Let's see. Audio Aero Prima CDP $1600 NEW! (the soon to be released newer model price?) OR Audiomeca Keops $1600 New or Obsession like $1200 or so . Look for used on the 3 but hard to find. For amp Kora intergrated hybred(tubes+ss) 60 watts $750 NEW!! For speakers...give the VMPS RM1(ribbon hybred) $1600 NEW a consideration. So lets see 1600+750+1600= roughly $4K if used alittle less but then you got cables interconnects. For these go used Acoustic Zen lower price model say another $500 used for both. For speaker cables go to Home Depot try the thickest copper twisted wire you can find its like 90 cents ft. Good Luck

The Audio Aero Prima you refer to at $1600 is that the new one that does not have a tubed output stage and buffer? Does that player do upsampling? I went to the VMPS web site I think, it does not appear to have any info on dealers, pricing, etc., is this a new company?
Also the Kora you mention, is that the Explorer or design 30?

Meby VMPS is in the process of upgrading web page been at it for 2 weeks now. If you email them a note you'll get photos and description of products. Like you i'm on a limited budget and my research in speakers has narrowed my choice to 2 as of yesterday, heard 1 and now its down to 1 the VMPS RM1 (if i could get a used Quad 988 , that would probably be #1 choice but they are very new and nobody selling) I talked to Ljgj he's heard the RM2 ($2500) says they very nice. I'm not sure what the components are in the Prima but i asked them how does the Prima sound compared to Capitole and they said "like a little Capitole" Heck! I'll take the "little Capitole" for (new Price ?) vs. $8K Cap.!! I think has tubes. And yes the Kora is called Explorer. Look for used Acoustic Zen Copper interconnects. Speaker wire from Home Depot(90 cents a ft.!!). Probably a tad more than $4K but lets see if any other Audiogoners who can help you in your choices. There are lots of used stuff to choose from , these are just my picks. BTW i'll second Buckingham's advice Stay away from (most) HiFi shops!!!!

Yeah I know what you mean on so called high end shops, even when I find one who carries the brand I like I do not trust the salesmen. I can not tell you how many times while auditioning speakers I have caught salesman having a sub on and not mentioning it till I call them on it. Heck the other day, one had an extra set of speakers and a second amp running. I may not be an audiophile but I am not an idiot! My other favorite is when you go in to audition their lower line equipment and they say you don't want that it's garbage and steer you straight to their most expensive stuff. My question to them is, if it is garbage why do you carry it then? I do not know what those types of salesman are thinking. Even if those dealers carry what I want, I would never give them my business. Although I have to admit I had found two good dealers in TX, unfortunately I no longer live there.