SO for my tastes this is my "Go to" front end
SKB rolling rack with;
Monster 2500 power conditioner
Langevin (by Manley Labs) DVC combo hi end 2 channel analog mic pres/DI ...EQ...Limiter
TC Electronics M3000 digital studio reverb processor
Run this into either a good two channel amp and a pair of oh Say.... Daedalus 803's and you will have a great system . Or skip the amp and something like a pair of powered Line 6 stage source speakers
Point of interest they don't make the DVC But two grand $ will get ya started on another great sounding mic pre ,something like say a Pendulum Audio SPS-1 ..Then another two grand will get ya the reverb and the power conditioner. Then speakers are a bit under $3000, the amp maybe another $500
Sure some might not want to pay the price for such a system, but if you are after premium tone .. Well then figure $6k to $10k would be a good start.