Systems from Richer Sounds
Got several bits and pieces off Richer Sounds over the years.
Without a doubt, they sell good gear. Cloney deals higher end stuff, generally a bit more expensive than Richer Sounds. I don't know anything about B&O stuff, other than it looks the business!
In comparison to your JVC or Sony all-in-1, the sound is noticably clearer, with more punch, and you should hear details that you didn't notice before. You'll want to listen to your CDs more often, and you'll probably prefer renting a DVD to watching a film on TV.
The little TEAC units are good for their size and price. I bought an all-in-one CD/radio/amp, it sounded great, but the alarm clock on it wouldn't hold the time, making it useless. I eventuall had to change if for a Denon, which didn't sound as good, but at least the timer worked!
As with anything, you'll get what you pay for. If you're interested in the sound more so than the cooler than cool looks of the Teac / B&O gear, and can put up with several units making up the HIFI (and being reasonably bulky) - then give Richer Sounds a call.
If it was me, I'd spend about 1000 on a good surround sound receiver (amp and radio built in), 400-600 on a DVD player from the same manufacturer, and about 1500 on speakers. If you want to spend more, you could doubly or treble the amount in Richer Sounds, but have a listen first, and see if the difference is worth it. They should be quite obliging and set up the various systems for you in the shop in Belfast if you give them a couple of days notice.
If you stick to one manufacturer, you should be able to use one remote, otherwise some of the more expensive receivers come with a learning remote, which you can "teach" the controls of other equipment to.
On top of that, you could add a DVD recorder (not something I would bother with personally, Sky+ can record TV for you, and you can buy a DVD-recording PC relatively cheaply from Dell these days).
You could also consider a subwoofer, for the cinema experience (floor-moving bass notes), but they need to be big and bulky to work properly.
If you're into MP3, most new DVD players will play MP3 CDs which you'll have to burn yourself, or there are also hard-disk units that store the data inside, and work through the remote control like a normal CD/DVD player.
Best thing about these systems is that they are modular, and if one part breaks in a few years time, you can replace just it, not the whole system. Likewise, if you want to improve one part, but are happy with another, you don't need to buy a whole new system. The modular thing also allows you to build up over time, you can always add bits later rather than having to pay for it all now.
The folks who run Richer Sounds used to run Lyric HIFI in Dublin. They did custom installs of the real high end stuff, with wall controls, ceiling/outdoor/built-in speakers, multi-room controls, home networking etc. If you're into that, they may still be able to sort it out for you. This shop was more of a competitor of Cloney's though.
There's also Munster Sounds if you're in the Cork area. A sister shop of Richer Sounds in the North. Similar stuff, similar pricing.
I've bought from Peats a few times, and every time, I've been disappointed with the customer service. I've always been left waiting to get served in there, its a bit like ordering a pint in a busy pub, they won't make eye contact and seem to be busy doing nothing!