I would suggest a different approach. Since you are just stepping into the water, I think you might consider purchasing something like a Pro-ject Tube Box2 for $400 and listen to it for a year or so to get a better handle on analog in general. Then you will be better educated as far as knowing what's better or worse when you hear it later. It's like buying your first computer - you don't really know what you expect it to do until you play with it for a while and then say - I wish I could do this, that and the other.
Then you know what to buy on your next computer. The Tube Box is not a bad piece at all at the level of gear you're buying. And if you want to sell it in a year, you'll lose $200,
Then you know what to buy on your next computer. The Tube Box is not a bad piece at all at the level of gear you're buying. And if you want to sell it in a year, you'll lose $200,