If I may Howie,...Relax, and live a little! You won't go wrong either way. You can obviously afford a top tier digital front end for this kind of scratch. Same is true for the vinyl. Grab a couple of CD's and LP's and head out to the most user friendly audio saloon you can find. After spending all day ENJOYING YOURSELF, invest in which ever source makes you FEEL GOOD. The last time I did this (after in home confirmation), I purchased an Aesthetix IO. There was no way I should have moved up to this level after 10 years off raising kids, but this masterpiece transports the emotion of the music like no other single component I have ever owned. My system, particularly the analog, is now an absolute thrill to listen to.
It's safe to assume that this hobby has no conclusion,so you might as well jump in.
It's safe to assume that this hobby has no conclusion,so you might as well jump in.