Thoughts on a Potential New Rig

Minor red flag: zero budget for wire?

I like your system ideas, and you should be well under $4K budget, right?  Vintage Technics ($1000 maybe less), McIntosh MA6200 integrated about $1500, then presumably $500 or so for the Silverlines or other vintage monitors.  Check out my vintage system page.  I use Focal monitors and like them a lot.  Especially like your choice of Mac integrated, which is similar to my older but still great sounding MA5100. The headphone amp section should be excellent as well on the MA6200.

Maybe consider a Hsu Research or other moderate priced subwoofer too.  That'll warm things up, help system imaging, and work nicely in a moderate sized space.  You'll still be under budget, especially if you get inexpensive cabling for now.  The next move would be a better phono stage, but for now the Mac phono ought to be fine.

Good luck!

@millercarbon - right! I know nothing about cables. Any recs?

goheelz -Thanks! Was planning on the Minuet Grands, which run about 2k new and (hopefully) about 1,200 used. Everything I've read makes them seem like a good pairing with the MA6200. Will def look at Focal too, as I know a lot of people sing their praises.