A rookie with 10K, seeking advise

The Lintons are not good speakers. I had them for a month. I had not one good thing to say about them.

@grislybutter how did you choose those originally?
Do you hear them first?

@stringreen advice is always safe:

put it in the bank....then when the Market returns go for it.

While a lot of people say “Everything matters”, but in reality it is best to order things.

1. Room
2. Speakers
3. Subwoofer
4. Front end
5. Amp(s)

I find the Devore speakers are perplexing, but I only heard them once.
You might like their soundstage.

@jasonbourne52 mentioned them:

There’s a pair of DeVore Gibbon Super Nine’s for sale here on Agon for $7800. Those would be a major upgrade over the Linton’s. Seller is in Atlanta.

It is probably worth a drive, and in addition to those… just take your time and listen to many speakers.
The problem with that approach is that you are also listening to the listening room, and everything else, + biases and dealer magic… so it is not 100% representative of what you may end up with at home.
Hence, just make a list of what to listen to, and starting moving slowly and measured, and @stringreen suggested.

it is not unreasonable for it to take months to years of listening to speakers, and with more speakers now, than in the past… (QED)

I'm new to the HiFi world. I listen to a lot of female vocal and classical music. I like both digital and vinyl. I am using a pair of Wharfedale Linton heritage and PS Audio Stellar Strata. 

How did you arrive at ^that^ set up?
- purchased new or used? Or given/loaned to you?

Whatever you do, do not waste the money on cables and power conditioners. That’s the very last 1-2% improvement after you’ve already got your reference system. Spending money on power conditioners instead of better speakers is the worst advice I’ve ever seen. Speakers have the most impact on your system. 

+1 @kumizi 

@llid2 - I posted this ~5 days back:

How did you arrive at ^that^ set up?
- purchased new or used? Or given/loaned to you?

Can you provide any insight?