Lots and lots of variations. But basically get a $250-350 pair of speakers for a decent brand (Dali Spektor 1 or 2 are a good bet) and plug them into a $100-200 second hand amp and you've got a great set up. If you don't want to go second hand then Yamaha and Sony have some decent amps in this price range.

Spend whatever you have left over on a second hand CD player or DAC for your phone, depending on what you want to use as a source.

JBL 305 + 310S matching subwoofer will measure impeccably and play nearly full range with strong bass down to 27ish hz. Would have to catch some sale prices around black friday or some such.

Or this excellent DIY kit and basically, any solid 50-100W ish amp. Might push you up to more like $600. But you get the idea.

https://www.parts-express.com/Amiga-MT-Tower-Speaker-Kit-Wit...

I have a generally very high opinion of Wirecutter's bookshelf speaker and receiver recommendations - any recommended receiver and any recommended bookshelf speaker, basically. Although, most retail bookshelf speakers in this range might be more like an 80% experience not 90% lol.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/electronics/audio/

Another thing you can do for a very legitimate hi fi experience on a budget is to turn modest speakers into excellent performers with DSP EQ. Either automatically with a receiver that has e.g. Audyssey auto correction or with a MiniDSP etc.

Audio reproduction is, well, signal reproduction/amplification. Whether a driver produces objectively correct sound via excellence in physical driver construction and engineering, or via a DSP assist, makes little difference.

Mine is a bit more expensive, since I bought the speakers new (I had somewhat specific demands), but everything else was second-hand.

I've got a pair of Monitor Audio Bronze 2s, a Denon AVR-1911 receiver and two Dali SWA 12 subwoofers.

As I wrote above, I bought the speakers new, because I wanted relatively large bookshelf speakers with front ports and living room-friendly looks, and nothing presented itself second-hand. With a bit of patience, you should be able to find a solid pair of speakers in mint condition for $2-300, no problem.

The receiver has 90W per channel (for real, no tricks), Audyssey room correction and was just $80 second hand from a guy who had upgraded to a 4K-capable receiver. I have it hooked up to my TV and so on, but at that price I would be perfectly happy just using it as a stereo amp, since it has good power, digital inputs, room correction and bass management for subwoofers.

The subwoofers were ~$200 each second hand, years and years ago. I'm sure they're even less expensive now, or you can just do without subs.

I’m rather happy with my el cheapo Denon receiver (no idea about the model but like 220 euro new 5 years ago) and a pair of Wharfedale Diamonds 10.1 .

Couple of JBL 306PII active monitors

Hm. I have a very old German Tube Amplifier (K+H) from my grandfather and some USSR made speakers (Radiotehnika Audio - GoldLine 90, 30kg each).

But this system would cost you know 1-2k. But I was lucky and bought the speakers for 100 USD not long ago.