Budget system for a newbie

Hi Scott, and welcome.  I can't help with the turntable (haven't heard the latest regas) but I can help with the rest.

Amp and CD are a good choice, as are The Cambridge 650A and 650C for the same price at Richers (EDIT - though the latter doesn't have a phono stage, scratch that).  Either will cope with good speakers, but because of your required positioning you'd probably be best off with a front ported design.  Will see if I can compile a list...

speakers

Dali Lektor 2 or 1 ....... 2 preferably

Warfedale Diamond 9.1

Regarding the turntable, I've got the RP3 and I'd highly recommend it.  The RP1 is excellent but the RP3 is much more of a long term purchase and will stand several future upgrades of amp and/or speakers.  With the Elys 2 cartridge the better deck sounds wonderful and it tracks even quite difficult vinyl brilliantly.  The extra spend goes much further on the turntable than it would with a CD player, though your choice ultimately depends on how much vinyl you already have and how much you intend to buy in the future.  If you do go for the RP1, at least go for the Performance Pack.  The Bias 2 is considerably nicer sounding than the stock Ortofon.

The Marantz CD and amp are excellent and I don't think you can go wrong with them.  I've been delighted with my CD6003 and I also enjoyed the PM6003 when I had it.  The 6004s are a step on again (I've heard them a couple of times) so no concerns there from me.

In terms of speakers a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 9.1s would work very well.  They are still brilliantly capable speakers and should work well in your suggested set-up.

Ultimately my advice is to audition this kit to make sure you get the right equipment to enable you to enjoy your music to its full potential.

Diamond 9.1s is a good call actually.  Bargain as well.

KEF Q300 front ported so a possibility but I haven't heard them so can't swear on it.

I'd rule out the 2020 altogether, you do know they're incredibly deep?  Found them a bit stodgy as well.

Dali Lektor 1 or 2 yes. 2 quite chunky.

Monitor Audio BX2 (also quite chunky).

Try to demo: CA Azur 650 combo + WH Diamond 10.1

KEF Q300 need plenty of space around them so not a good choice for your circumstances.

At the budget end the Lektor 1's are excellent against a wall and very petite too - I had mine wall-mounted - and are my personal preference over the 2's as I found them to be better balanced.

how are the Rega Sizzers?

Absolutely perfect, and thank you for asking Moon.

The clarity and detail I find quite stunning, as well as being very tight and exceptionally well balanced. The mids/highs really do make me tingle and the bass I find amazing. I don't need it thumping away, so instead you just get this amazing detailed bass which happily picks it's way through the rhythmn. I have them on stands at the moment but intend to wall-mount them at some point, and hopefully I'll be arranging for just one more item today to complete everything .

+1 for the 1's v 2's -- I also found them better balanced and had success wall-mounting or jammed on shelves with one box on its side!

The 9.1's are great as well--I got a pair for a friend--but a fair bit bigger. Not quite as easy to place but a more full-bodied (and less detailed and refined) sound than the Lektor 1's.

What an incredibly helpful lot you are.

I have managed to find some very good bundle deals by buying CD, amp & speakers together. All bundles feature the Marantz amp/CD combo.

The bottom line is that the price is not significantly different between the bundles. So I have a free choice between:

Wharfedale Diamond 9.1

Wharfedale Diamond 10.1

Monitor Audio BX2 (will these cope with being jammed on a shelf?)

I am not going to be able to test run them before purchase, sadly. If they are all roughly the same price - is there a no brain option?

Thanks for all your help!

If they weren't going to be jammed on a shelf then I would instantly say BX2, but, I think they need a bit of space around them. Just my findings. 

I am surprised you can get them all at roughly the same price since the MA 's are dearer. 

If the above is your final shortlist, I would choose the 9.1 's 

You are right, of course, the BX2s do add to the price. But by just £75, which is only about 10% of the cost of the whole system, which I will pay if there is a major difference. I could hook up the speakers on a wall bracket (but I am guessing this would be too close to the wall for the BX2s anyway). Goddam...can't really decide. I really like the sound of the Dali Lektor 1s - Sizzers makes a convincing, persuasive case (is she a barrister?). But they come out more expensive...

A friend has told me that I should can the rp3 and spend the extra £200 on speakers. Is this good advice? She knows what she is talking about usually, so I am reluctant to dismiss it?

Bear with me guys! I will make a decision, I just need your experienced views.

That's a picture of Adele.

Sizzers may turn out to be a barrister though.

Strike the 10.1s off the list as they are rear ported and will boom given your intended placement.  

I'd also be wary of the BX2s which also need space, despite being front ported.

My suggestion would be the 9.1s but do go and listen for yourself before buying.  If you do want to spend more on speakers, I'd seriously recommend trying to resolve your placement issues as you won't get much gain if the speakers are just going to be stuffed onto a shelf.