phono stage/preamp project the classic superpack help with set-up please

I advise making sure you choose efficient speakers SPL 1meter/1watt 90 db or higher. Also, try to stay nominal 8 ohms.

that will keep your amplifier power size (___wpc watts per channel) lower, which puts you in position to go either Solid State or Tubes, staying down in affordable range, and keeping equipment size/weight/heat manageable 

I hope you dad is parting while still with you, condolences if he's gone.

What equipment was your father using? Don't ignore old stuff!

please describe room size/shape/surfaces, i.e. give us a clue about the listening room you are selecting speakers for.

plan on speakers being a few feet forward of rear wall, a few feet in from side walls,

I don't like ports, avoid them, I suggest selecting mains and later, if you need more bass, add a stereo pair of self powered subs located with the mains. Bass and overtones from those low fundamentals are directional.

Sorry to hear he is no longer with you.

My entire involvement in high quality sound is based on inheriting my wealthy uncle’s system in 1973 (Fisher President II made in 1958) when he died too young when I was 25.

http://www.fisherconsoles.com/President%20II.html

it's bigger than that indicates, it was around 35" high, 15" woofers, horn midrange, horn tweeters, 

Don’t count old stuff out. It can be ok, refurb, restored, sold .... I moved many parts out of the console, my current speakers are the ones from that unit restored in a custom rosewood enclosure. I still use the tube amps frequently, other components are downstairs silently looking good.

Is there anyone who can get into that attic, move some stuff around, get model/serial #s, take photos, remove covers from front of speakers to check the condition? Perhaps catalog/photograph it, move it to air conditioned storage unit before you get caught in a compromise situation. You might get a reduced cost for a storage unit now, later, if people lose their houses, large apartments, downsize, storage units get busy.

KEF are very nice, excellent, except, they are low sensitivity, so, they need more power than other speakers to make the same sound volume. You may find a decently powerful amp up there.

B&W Bowers and Wilkins are also very nice, usually higher sensitivity than KEF, so a smaller amp would be successful with them.

I just bought a pair of B&W bookshelf speakers, made in 1985, so they are 35 years old. they sound terrific, I added my Velodyne self powered sub for a bit more low bass, I have the best sounding system in my office than ever before.



Now, the behemoth speakers: inquiring minds want to know more.!!!

Think long, you have the rest of your life to mess with this, and, do you have any children? If so, you might want to get them involved now.