Can someone help out a newbe?

What about some used BW monitors?

Oh here we go with cable crapping.
I will say you do need to provide the above info and you either need to pick a item with built in phono section or get an external solution.
Also what size room and do you have a gf'wife who will dictate what size speakers must be? New or used gear?
You have some things to think about and disclose long before you get close to trying any cable.....and often they can make a difference if your ready for them.
By being ready for cables I mean, gear is carefully selected, room is treated, all gear is properly placed, your AC is good and on down the line. Many if not most times the cable crappers have a valid point because they truely have never heard a cable make a improvement. The only problem is many of these same folks were never ready to evaluate a cable to begin with so its sometimes hard to get to worked up about their opinions.
I think its safe to say at this point go to Monoprice and sites like that for a quality conductor for your interconnects and speaker cables and worry more about it all cable stuff another day.

Yes, I would look into an Anthem tube pre, Sonic Frontiers (same maker) or for SS a older Classe pre would sound great.

Put in those names in search field here on Agon and see whats used and affordable would be your best bet. But you really should try to hear some forst as always.