@albymana I’m three years or so in to my adventure of exploring HiFi as a hobby/passion. I got intrigued listening to a friend’s system who I think had seven sets of speakers set up in one room; he was only playing two of them, but I couldn’t tell which ones —they had all disappeared! The only thing in the room was the sound of the music. I thought, I want that! I agree with the advice of several before me.
After acquiring several sets of used speakers myself now, along with both tube and solid state preamps and amps, when I’m listening, I find the source is the most important.
Another way of putting it:
1. You’re listening to music, but you’re hearing the room.
Take away: Fit the speakers to the room and treat the room as necessary. This step assumes you have enough power in your amp to power your speakers. I would consider getting an integrated (amp+preamp) for the synergy & simplicity at this point.
2. Secure the highest quality source you can procure, after deciding digital or analog. If digital, spend/select the DAC. Might want to keep DAC separate, or buy higher end item in which DAC function is integrated. If analog, don’t skimp on the phono stage. I wouldn’t advise doing both at once.
Takeaway: You can’t make a poor signal sound better with a bigger amp; better sound depends upon removing noise and distortion, the task begins at the source.
3. Enjoy and experiment. Upgrade cables. Try different speakers (once you know your room). Try separates for amplification and/or DAC functions. Upgrade the power supplies if some of your components use bricks or switching power supplies.
Takeaway: The only person you have to please is yourself. (per Andrew Robinson)