So, I've always liked music - both playing and listening to music. My first system was simply Mission speakers/Rotel amp/Philips CD. Then I left that with my parents when I took off for college. After college I got PSB T45/Thule Amp/Thule CD - which I was generally happy with.

Then a combination of moving country and wife not being particularly thrilled about the relative size of the T45's in our then not-so-big apartment made me sell the whole thing.

For a short period I owned a Beocenter 1 - which pleased the wife. And to be fair, it pleased me when I managed to sell it for a USD1000 profit upon yet another country move.

I've now taken a considerable step back as I'm mostly playing off iTunes into an iPod Hi-Fi (I know most of you will think putting a hi-fi name on that box is a pretty big insult).

Bottom line - time to put together something sensible again.

Limitations:
I have to be honest with myself and recognize that most of my music will be through iTunes. Somebody therefore suggested to me that I either play lossless files from iTunes, or use an iPod Touch on a Wadia 170 iTransport connected to a DAC...(which quite frankly did not mean much to me, other than I have grasped the benefit and need of playing lossless files)

Voltage
I also have to recognize that I will most likely move from my current 100V location to a 220V location within the next 5 years - not sure if it matters...

Room
I don't have a dedicated listening room, but a large living room.

Budget
USD4000k (or so) - but could be prepared to double that if there are very good reasons

Use
Specific sit down listening, and background music for dinners etc

WAF
The wife-acceptance-factor is important although not crucial. However, I don't think I can afford a diamond big enough to compensate for me logging in floor-to-ceiling speakers...

Any suggestions on what speakers, amp and anything else I need to play digital music?

Suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks.