I took the plunge and my hifi system and CDs have been replaced with an ipod and docking stations primarily because of space. I could never get the speakers to fit the room, there was always a compromise between living, especially with children and a beautifully spaced hifi system. The CDs can live in the loft now.
I now have an amazing Logitech mm50 in the kitchen which also comes with me about the house. It's energy and clarity of sound is superb. It's base can walk it off my mantlepiece; Groove Armada and the track 'Edge hill', but it also sounds clear at low volumes for quiet moments. I can now have music anywhere I want to in the house.
In the livingroom (small and L shaped) I have a Bose Sound dock. Again sound quality is very good, but and it is a big but, because the sound is more focused from the Bose it sounds better in the room than my old hifi. The Bose has a very strong base that stays tight, for example Finley Quaye 'When we are together' and it does not zzz with s sounds in vocals such as Chris Martin with Coldplay. It has great detail as well, picking out all of the instruments from a Gomez track easily. The accoustics of my livingroom suit the Bose better.
Hopefully development of docking stations, especially 'one room' systems that do not have portability as their main function will continue and sound quality will improve with it. Meanwhile I would recommend you spend your budget on the two docking stations.