Classical Nirvana for 10-15K

I heard the B&W nautilus + sub with classe amplification. Probably due to room acoustics, the sound was a tad on the dry side; but, generally beautiful. However, that speaker combo alone was easily in your *system* investment range. That leaves precious little for the rest of the system -- or if I'm missing s/thing, pls excuse.
Agreeing w/ Sugar's note about bass clarity & tonal accuracy, I'd also stress the importance of highs -- to bring out harmonics+timbre. Of course, effortless dynamics are a must IMO -- hence the quality of the pre. Cheers!

I have a couple recs, though my system is a bit different. I run a pair of ATC Active 100's. They're internaly TRI-amped, so you don't need any amps. I run them Directly from my Sony CD player which has variable output control. It doesn't get any simpler or cleaner than that! The ATC 100's run $14,600/pr. But you also need a CD such as a Wadia, or other that has Variable outs. which would bust your range. So here's my recommendation:

A pair of ATC Active 50's ($12,950/pr) and use the other $2K for cables and a CD/SACD player w/ variable outs.
The low end is still pushing 25 Hz. They're 3way's.

ATC took the Stereophile System of the year for 2001. They've done only ProAudio and Studios. Now they've moved into Residential. 60% of the world's recording studios use ATC. Check out their website: www.atc.gb.net

I can put you in touch w/ the guy that I bought mine from here in Denver. They're completely the most natural and relatistic sound you'll ever experience w/ the most GIGANTIC soundstage imaginable. I went to CES this year, SONY's SACD booth had 5 ATC 150's to demo their new surround SACD format. The most amazing sound I've ever heard. I actually moved to ATC from my Aerial Acoutics 8b's and Bryston 7b-st monoblocks! I didn't think that there was even a comparison!!!

At least give the website a test drive to see if I'm completely full of it or not. Warning, the website isn't awesome, but there's a ton of great articles and info if you can dig your way through it... Good luck.

This would be an easy choice for me.

1.) Speakers: Genesis Technologies Genesis V. Originally $14,500 before Genesis went out of business, the V are gorgeous, breath-taking speakers that come with their own high-end bass amp, leaving you with much more modest needs for the treble only. Now available second-hand for about $4200 to $5000 (plus shipping or pick-up, weight in the 485 pound range).

2.) Treble amp: This is a little tougher, but what wonderful choices available now! I've listened for hours to the Genesis V with Audio Research VT-150 SE monoblocks on top ($16,000 a pair, about $7200 used), but I don't think you need that much power. Almost anything in the $2500 to $4000 range (used) by Audio Research, Classe Audio, Pass, or Mark Levinson would do nicely. Think "tubes," pure class A circuitry (such as the Pass line of amps), or solid-state that is very tube-like.

3.) Front End: Keep it simple. Go for a Wadia CD player with volume control. Does the Wadia 861 provide that? Figure about $4600 used.

That's it! No preamp, no LP, no tuner. I'd focus on the main components (and the fact that I have 1600 CDs and no LPs), knowing that I could better afford to add-on less expensive items later. Whatever was left over from this imagined $15,000 windfall, I'd spend on cables.

Now THAT would be a great system for CD playback! (for me)

I certainly agree with Mark Hubbard, and would only add that two other excellent choices for driving the treble section of the Gen. V would be the Conrad-Johnson Premiere lla, or the Cary 805c single-ended monoblocks.