Novice question

Something else will be better. Your best price/performance in your range will be with a turntable, integrated (not a receiver, an integrated amp) with built-in phono stage, speaker cables, and interconnects. Your Advents are a bit of a problem as at least if I remember right they are very inefficient, so require a lot of power, something you can hardly afford. On the plus side your amp according to eBay could net you several hundred, which together with another few hundred for the Advents and the $600, call it $1200 altogether, you could probably put together a much better sounding system.

A couple things to keep in mind if you decide to try this-

Affordable speakers with high efficiency will not only sound better but help get a lot more out of your amp dollar by working well with even a lower power amp. This one move will open up your choices a lot.

Going integrated maximizes your audio dollar by eliminating the extra chassis and power supplies, both big cost factors that wind up being duplicated when going to separates. You also save big by not needing any interconnect to connect pre-amp and amp.

Interconnects and speaker cables are essential components well worth significant investment. But significant in relation to your total system cost of around $1200 means something like $100 each.

Finally none of the cost numbers mean go out and spend that much. $100 is nothing more than a way to filter out and save time. It means you do not waste much time listening to $500 interconnects- except as a reference, to give you some idea what the cheaper ones are trying to do. But at the low budget end you simply cannot afford to buy based on advice or reviews, you simply must go and listen. Listen to stuff much cheaper, listen to used, there are bargains to be had and this is the way you find them.

I've actually done this for friends a couple times now. Its downright impressive what can be accomplished these days for around $1200 to 1500. Total. The systems I did were CD, SS integrated, bookshelf speakers, interconnect, speaker cables, power cord, and cones. Yes a fully tweaked system for under $1500- and that was all new gear. Buying used you should be able to do even better.

Thanks very much.

Check out the Audiopheliac You Tube Channel.  He recently did a series on inexpensive systems that give true high end sounds starting at $600.00 for a complete system and going up from there.  There is a wealth of information there.  Have fun. 

Thank you. I’ll check it out.

So, What did you decide?

Don’t bother spending spending money on cables beyond a properly constructed set.  Unless you want to sit there and delude yourself like all these other audiophiles. 

I decided to go w/the simplest route on a preamp since I’m only using a CD player and DAC/Bluetooth as sources. Ordered a passive preamp from Pine Tree Audio. It has two inputs and one output that goes directly to the power amp, a source selector switch, and a volume control knob. Since it’s passive it has/needs no power source.  My thought was that w/no power source or electronic parts the preamp should add little or nothing in the way of excess sound. I’m happy w/the solution and it made more sense to me as opposed to adding an expensive preamp w/features I wouldn’t use.  I’m going to upgrade my cables w/mid-level Audioquests based on their overall good reviews. I’m also considering a pair of used Klipsch Cornwalls so long as I can audition them prior to purchase (and assuming I like how they sound). I’ve actually been very happy w/my Large Advents but am intrigued by what I’ve read about the Cornwalls. I’ll try to let my ears be the judge. Thanks to everyone for the advice and suggestions. I admit my preference for vintage gear—guess it’s a sign of my age and budget.