Seeking Constructive Equipment Ideas

You should go to a few stores and figure out the speakers first. Wharfedale Lintons are attractive speakers, but they are not as clear and resolving as many other speakers. In a 12x12 room, I would worry about the space you can give them as they are rear ported as well. You may have better luck with a few other options from Elac or JBL, or the KLH Model 3 or 5.

You can absolutely get a great integrated for $5K or less, especially on the used market. Check out Primaluna. The Primaluna HP Dialogue is an older model but sounds nearly as good as the latest top model and will beat out many other amp separates up to $10K+, and you can find the amp used generally for $3K. You can then invest the rest in better tubes, cables, etc. The headphone section on the unit is also superb, as it uses the full tube stage for the output.

Thanks bliss. Yeah that is one thing about the Energys. They were incredible value back then and still sound nice but I always found them either a little boomy without port inserts and too bass light with the inserts. I had KEFs too years ago and really liked they seem over the top pricey for what they are offering now.

I agree with @blisshifi , listen if you can to a few speakers. Based on what you listen too, Totems, KEF's (pricey compared to what?), B&W's and Harbeth, you can check out the new KLH's.  I have a small room, so having the port in the back of the speaker was not a good match, so I went with Harbeth. I myself have a huge Dead collection (if it's not obvious). The Harbeth are very accurate, but a bit laid back however compared to the other ones mentioned. So you may or may not like Harbeth's. I think they make Jerry and Bob sound great. If you listen to more acoustic/vocals/'mellower' rock then you will like them. Death metal not so much. 

Your NAD was a Class D, I had NAD a long time ago, very good sounding. I changed over to Class A, and although some newer Class D sounds amazing, such as the new Technics integrated (NAD has some really nice stuff too), I went with Luxman class A/B (you can get a used one for about $5K) they have great headphone amps and turntable preamps built into them (keep an eye out, some integrated amps do not have phono inputs), plus tone controls, great for late night listening. Primaluna only if you want to deal with tubes, but a very good sounding choice. Rotel has some very nice stuff, I loved the CD player I had, but I do not  have experience with their other electronics.

You have lots to choose from, but choose the speakers first, they are more critical, especially in a room your size (Mine is 10x16 so barely larger then yours). Good luck.

@vinyljones1 I have the same space as you and had the Peachtree NOVA 150 in that space. The NOVA 150 and NOVA 300 are identical in the parts that I think are not very good, the preamp and DAC sections. So I would avoid it in 2022, t was not bad in the day. Saying all of that I did buy the new Peachtree GAN1 amp today. Though this is not what you need since it only has 1 input.

I have the Benchmark AHB2 monos and the LA4 preamp in my office now and it is not overkill at all. It is perfect in every way, I use a Musetec 005 DAC to add a bit of flavor to the sound. I love this setup and can easily recommend it. I may sell my 2nd extra Musetec 005 if the GAN1 is as good as they are hyping.

A one and done solution is a KRELL K-300i integrated amp. I sold mine for about $5.5K and all you would need is an Ethernet cable. It sounds incredible and it has only gone up in price since I got it. It also is an excellent power source for the RAAL SR1a earphones via a 2-channel adapter box.

At one time I had a Benchmark HPA4 preamp as my 2-channel preamp/headphone amp + AHB2 amps. I used the HPA4 with Meze Empy headphones (the old warmer model). However, I discovered RAAL headphones and out went the Meze and even the HPA4. I sold that for a profit and bought the LA4. The Meze Empy and HPA4 were very good.

Send me a DM if you want a deeper dive into the world of RAAL headphones.

Great info santa and  dead. I did not know that the 2200 was Class D. It had zero problem driving those Maggies back in the day. I actually had some small KEFs in the late 80's and really liked them. Don't remember what model but my drunk roommate fried them by blasting Slayer when I wasn't home. My music listening is Dead, Krautrock, Gong, Hillage, PFM and other prog and obscure 70s hard rock i.e. Budgie etc. so not a ton of mellow acoustic stuff. I do like to rock as they say. I may check out the KEF LS50 but I'm always flumoxed by speakers with only one speaker. I did look at the RAAL site but probably gonna be a little rich for what I really want to keep it at with the price of food etc, now. The impedance on those, holy cow. Like a direct short! Not sure of many amps that could drive those. I guess the HPA4 couldnt.  There is a HPA4 listed here for $2200 and I thought about it but not sure if I should do it unheard. I"m in Palm Coast Fl so not much shops around but Jacksonville does have a nice store. Other ten that my store options are slim without a long ass drive.

A pair of active Dynaudio Focus 10 or 30 speakers and you are done. The preamp, the dac, the amps, streamer, and of course the speakers are integrated by the Dynaudio engineers into a single system. They have 2 RCA inputs so you can hook up your TT and your turntable can either use the other RCA jack of the digital inputs. Each speakers is 390 watts and each driver has a dedicated amp.:

Thanks for the tip on the Dynaudio. Admittedly, the concept is cool but my old school mind and self would probably steer me away. I would always have a hard time convincing myself it was really any good. My loss possibly but I have a hard time wrapping my head around anything but separates or an integrated at most. It would create a definite cognitive dissidence. Interesting though and appreciated.

you have nice stuff !!!!!

jealous of the TT and the cd player,

stay clear of that D stuff.

get class A or AB. a nice integrated will work, make sure you have enough power.

those lil energys are fantastic. klipsch, before they destroyed one of the best Canadian loudspeakers, they recommend their Jamo line, which are nice i guess.

i wholeheartedly agree on the Dynaudio speakers, BUT ,you will need some sack to power them, the cd player, TT, and Dynaudio, is one helluva system, make sure, you get a very good amplifier. tons of great used on the gon if you wanna go that route. Or personally, i would get a nice tubed Preamp, and the Sanders Magtech. no need to use all the power, but when needed, it will be there clip free, and reliability is the best.

 i would be patient, search, look for a used Magtech.

complete Sanders system just sold, speakers, magtech, eq, cables for like 8 or so K, i flipped,

Or a nice Mccormack, ship to Steve himself, and have a absolute top tier amp for a great price.  

sure, D is small, no heat, but you deserve better with the rotel and technics TT,