New to this hobby please help me

Op, as a person that was in your shoes 3 years ago, I will provide some advice based upon my experience. My advice will echo many on this thread. 
1. Do not settle for good enough. IMHO that works OK for HT, but not for 2 channel. I know this may be difficult, but try to figure out where you want to be at your ‘end game’, mid-fi ($K’s) or hi-fi (many $10’s of $K’s). Buy the best you can (preferably lightly used) with that end game in mind. 

2. Every thing matters. The weakest component in your string will drag down your best component. Again, buy the best you can. 

3. Speakers IMHO are the foundation of your 2 channel system. Electronics have a similar sound at a given price point. Speaker & phono cartridge sound has a much greater variance. Take your time with this choice. If upgrade is required, floor standers are more difficult to sell used as shipping charges can be prohibitive. 

This is a great hobby, but can be expensive to very expensive. Buying right can help minimize that expense. Enjoy!

To further explain, the GoldenEar speakers are a solid mid-fi speaker system. I stared with KEF R11’s, also solid mid-fi. I have recently upgraded to KEF Ref 3’s. Most would consider hi-fi speakers to start about $15K. I am slowly upgrading all my components to lower or mid hi-fi, with my DAC being next. A journey, but could have saved $K’s by buying to my tastes early. 

Most would consider hi-fi speakers to start about $15K

are you ok?

@wizzard  If you heard them at Stereo Unlimited, their setup is lazy and lack soundstage. And I am very polite here.

@parkergetdean I’m great, you maybe not so much. 
Op, one thing you will find (maybe already have) is most Audiogon’ers are helpful, others confrontational.