Exciting process! I began this audio journey in earnest late 2019. Lots of points already stated that I would concur, Robert Hurley's book is a must. I still refer to it from time to time.
1. Enjoy the learning. This isn't a "one and done" thing.
2. Set expectations. I think it's unrealistic to get it right the first time.
3. I set a budget. Then doubled it. Then tripled it. And it hasn't stopped.
4. Great thing if you have a good local dealer but remember, they only sell what they've got. A universe of information and tech awaits. And BTW, if said local brick and mortar store won't let you demo things, run away. As others have said, if possible, hearing in your own room is important.
5. Re. equip, I've not heard your speakers but in similar price universe, Revel F328Be (a pair can often be found for $10k) might do better and eliminate the need for a sub. For pure stereo / audio, I don't want a sub but arguments can be made either way. Sub placement, matching, timing are not "plug and play." I have the McIntosh MA325, significantly less than the one you're looking at and it is more than sufficient and has an additional set of balanced XLR connections if memory serves.
6. Someone mentioned a dedicated power line. I heard this over and over and finally did it. $300 by a local electrician and it was the best single addition to my system. Period. I was stunned at the result.
7. Blue Jean cables are very affordable and use a cold ultrasonic weld. 99.9% of cables (and I have some very expensive audioquests) are simply set screwed into twisted wire at the termination (banana, spade...). For a few hundred bucks, Blue Jean Cables will out match imo. Check them out online.
8. Vinyl. If you already have a collection, great. Bear in mind, building LPs today is different. I've been astonished how well some equipment can render CDs and overall pretty happy with TIDAL and occasionally Spotify. The beauty of playlists is you can take music wherever you go. IF (big IF and I may earn the heretic label) you can wait on the turntable, look into streamers and a great CD player. I'm astonished with A-B tests with any source and my Quad Artera Play+ (around $2K) with balanced XLR to the McIntosh. Mind blowing.
9. Spend some time on YouTube. Hans Beekhuyzen can be a bit deep for most but I appreciate his reviews. John Darko is interesting and I'd say more "current" with tech than older audiophiles. Steve Guttenberg is a long timer, he rarely says anything negative about equipment, however, but his playlist might be helpful. "The Cheap Audioman" is, well, cheap. Full disclosure, I fast forward his intros and a lot of his stuff but he's not wrong about the seduction of high price tags may not mean that major of an improvement. You may find others with whom you connect. If you become a Patreon ($5.00 - 10.00 a month) to folks you like, they can be a bit more helpful - a-hem - than forums. I find forums a bit, well, lets say, the folks on forums are interesting.
As I began, enjoy the process. Don't be in a rush to get everything. Learn. Laugh. Ask questions. And as Hans ends all his YouTube videos, "and whatever you do, enjoy the music."
Happy hunting.
