I should start with speakers. This I know. I’d like to establish a new system.

When I did what you're doing, here in Denver, CO, I took the following approach:

* Joined an audio club. There are now people in my area to talk to and hear their systems, for free.

* Began asking questions on the forum. If you search my handle here, you can see that many of the questions I've posed are basic, informational. They may be helpful. 

* Visited local brick and mortar stores.

* Bought used at TMR and then returned a couple pairs (minus re-stocking fee).

These steps allowed me to develop a stronger sense of my preferences. Speakers first, then amp and preamp.

@yyzsantabarbara  KEF Blade Meta? In a 20k budget? Is that possible?

@tomcarr  Agreed. 

If I was in the position of the OP, I do the following:

1. Try to size up the assets and challenges of the acoustics of the room. 
I'd lay hands on whatever gear I can find to listen with.
I'd listen, position, and once some reasonable positioning is established, I'd measure for frequency response. 

2. With the information gained above, I'd try to treat the rooms major flaws, focusing first on 20hz to 300 hz, since those frequencies have to be mastered before dealing with the rest of the range. I'd work a bit, next, on 300hz-20khz.

3. Having brought the room to a baseline of decent response, I'd do a bit of research on speakers and amps that will match my tastes and my room. 

4. Next, I'd start borrowing speakers or buying, used. I'd get a decent solid state amp (used, hopefully a keeper) that can drive a bunch of speakers. 

That would be the "launch sequence" to getting the basis of a good system going, in my opinion. 

Sum:

• Get the room ready.
• Try speakers and amp.
• Get final speakers.
• Get final amp.
• Figure out how to optimize the rest (preamp, DAC, cables, power, additional treatments, subs).

@yyzsantabarbara  A local guy to me is selling an almost new Blade 1 Meta for $18k. His ad and 2 others for under $20k are on USAM.

That's great to know. I don't know how the OP feels, but in my view, $18k or so on speakers almost depletes his $20k limit. If I had speakers as good as the Blades, I'd probably want a bit more in reserve for a power amp and other aspects of the system to fully optimize those speakers. $18k leaves him $2k, which doesn't leave enough budget, IMHO. 

@yyzsantabarbara Good point. I wasn’t sure if he was planning to spend beyond that on other stuff. When you suggested he could get the Wotan for $2k, it made me think that it was $20k overall, not just for speakers. Otherwise, you could choose a more expensive amp option rather than just ensuring your suggestion (for  Kef + Wotan) come out to a neat $20k. I may be in error.

The $20k budget is to include speakers, integrated amp (or amp & preamp)

Ah, ok. Well opinions will vary about integrated vs. separates, but I'd imagine you could get a pretty nice used speaker for 10-13k and then use the rest for a really good integrated or separates.