I finished my Hi-Fi construction that I started back in June. Here are the final purchases. I bought/learned about stuff through Audio Consultants in Evanston, eBay, Audiogon, and the Polk Audio forum.
Amplifier: Almarro A205A mkii (Used)
http://www.almarro.com/products.html
Simple single ended pentode design using a 5751 driver and EL84 power tube. It has a passive attenuation circuit so no preamp is needed. Made with discrete components, point-to-point construction, and very affordable for what you get. My only gripe is that in the early models (like mine) there is a slight hum from the power transformer interacting with the left output transformer. I have reduced it with some steel shielding. The newer design eliminates this hum.
Phono: VPI Scout (Used)
It's as good as mentioned here on the EA board. I got this cheap with an arm (audioquest pt-6) and cartridge (Ortofon X5-MC) included.
Phono-Pre: Gram Amp 2 SE
I got a bit lazy and decided not to build a phono preamp. This one is much nicer that the Rotel, HH Scott, or Project phono preamps I was using. Perhaps it's mental, but I hear less surface noise with this preamp.
Speakers: Fostex FE167E full range drivers built into cabinets by FRITZSPEAKERS.
http://fritzspeakers.com/FullRangeSpecs.htm
You can buy these speakers and build a cabinet... but you would have to build the cabinet. These speakers are amazing. I'm selling my B&W 601's. Fritz is selling on eBay as of recently and they are cheap for what you get. There are other people making these cabinets as well so you have lots of options. None of these people are named Fritz.
So that's about it. I made my own speaker connects with an extension cable. That's lots of copper.
I also found a resale shop here in Evanston with some excellent vinyl. Now I have enough classical and opera for a lifetime.
Oh, and big props to the Record Doctor III. Great record cleaner. Not build like the VPI, but not bad.
With patience I was able to get all these audio lovelies at just over $2K.