hi, i trying to to get my first system together

I would put in a vote for buying speakers first since they will lay the foundation for your system and because you are working within cost restraints (which many are) buy efficient speakers so you don't have to invest in expensive amplification.

Zd542, I should of made myself clearer in my post that a less powered less expensive amp does not have to be lower in sound quality. Let me refer to the line-up of Conrad Johnson amps as an example. You already know that their 100 WPC will cost you less than their 200 WPC amp. Does not mean the 100 WPC amp sounds inferior to their 200 WPC. In fact many would suggest that if you have efficient speakers and can get by with the lower powered amp would actually sound better.

I have owned many amps and I never encountered a hiss problem with efficient speakers.