Help in putting together my system with used equipment on Audiogon and eBay.

Hi, your brain will hurt before this thread ends!  So many opinions and a broad question.  My thoughts:
1) you have a great pre amp; so stay with separates and wait on amp purchase until you know your speakers and have listened.  It's easy to wrap your head around how speakers compare in any given environment than it is to find the right amp to speaker combination.  So for that I like to hear advise and recommendations... I like a warm SS amp like my old Classe CA 2300 or the hybrid sound of the PS Audio BHK.  I have not heard a lot of Pass but everyone seems to love them.  $$
2) I have happily ripped my CD's, started streaming, and then bought a nice DAC and never looked back.  Vinyl (to me!!!) is as much about the experience of choosing, cleaning and cueing up an album...and chilling and listening.  Bad digital is bad, but it can get quite good (to me!).
3) I have both a PS Audio Direct Stream and an Auralic Vega G2.  They sound great with my Roon Nucleus and separates.  Again, vinyl looks and is cool and I keep thinking about it..but it would never be my core listening, just a fun thing to play with.  (flame away!).
3) People love to trash B&W.  I have had two sets of the original Nautilus 802's and they are awesome.  I have auditioned all the successor 802's. Diamond versions (?3) and the newest.  Somehow I think they got less smooth, more analytical sounding and less attractive.
But I like cars from the 60's.  You can get the 802N's for a great deal I agree.  I paid $4200 for mint ones two years ago.  They can be very revealing, and love a warm environment (carpeted basement!) Mine are staying.
4) I also think the Revel Ultima 2's either the Studios or especially the Salons are a great used value.  They are so smooth and calm and easy yet everything is there.  But so many choices in speakers and how they look in the room etc.  Ive been told pretty cabinets means less focus on the components but I think why not be beautiful as long as you like the sound?  I did audition and pass on the most beautiful Italian ones...
5) a couple of years from now, when everything sounds perfect, audition some nice power cables or interconnects from the Cable Company.  For a deposit and the price of shipping, its fun and educational.  I did not want to believe it could make a big difference, but in my systems and to my ears, upgrading my main power cables (conditioner and amp) and interconnects (Two sets XLR), made significant improvements.  They let you try the cables for two weeks, so easy to hear for yourself. Good Luck!  Ken

bobd207s I hope my audio falls into place for me like it did for you! Being a musician must help a lot putting a good system together! cakyol I have seen lots of Naim and Shiit gear in upper level systems, I will look at that. jahatl513 I have had suggestions to use tubes "somewhere" in my system with Klipsch, does that mean either preamp, amp or DAC? audioman58 another vote for tubes and tweaking! I've been thinking about my Bryston and I may have done better with a class A, but I was trying to stay within my budget. My first mistake? dmbwire thanks for tht info, I will be seeing them real soon! I'm just concerned about them using new gear rather than used older gear, but I do have a lot of questions! jji666 thanks, I have heard that from many. I think I need to get the best pair I can get. There are so many options! Bass from a Magnapan? I'll have to give them an audition! Bob thanks for the gear recommendation. They are going on my list! hauxon thank you, more for my list. I have considered the Nautilus but first I've heard about Polk. I'll watch for them. bullitt5094 that's another recommendation for Tektons! I might see them at the expo! vair68robert Younger is wishful thinking! Another tube recommendation. I have to figure out the best way to do that. I would hate to sell my Pass X1. It seems to be either tubes or class A, I really need to educate myself about the difference in sound. Maybe incorporate both? Thiel on my list! vinylrestingplace that is definitely something I don't look forward to, deciding I want to try another amp, selling what I have, buying the next thing. I wonder which is the best way to go, refining the best amp/preamp or buy the best speakers and get gear to drive them. I've heard both from several people and it's an interesting question indeed! fastfreight great post, thanks! You touched on areas I have lingering questions about. Even the carpet, I have wood flooring so that is something to consider. I agree, I think I'll use the Pass preamp until I decide the Bryston, although it will drive almost any speaker, may not be musical enough for me. As a speaker engineer put it, "I want to hear the smack of a singer's lips when they start to sing, and a symbol strike as if out of thin air". I don't know if my system will ever get that good, but the quest is on!!! 

I couldn't agree more with the advice to go out and hear some gear yourself, with music you're very familiar with.

I took a quick look, and there are some brick and mortar places in Jacksonville.  

The BestBuy at  9930 Southside Blvd has a Magnolia store inside.  Magnolia was an independent HiFi shop in the Pacific Northwest that was bought by BestBuy a few years ago.  They have stores inside a few select BestBuy locations, and carry B&W as well as Martin Logan and McIntosh gear plus others.

I see a couple others: Hoyt Stereo carries B&W, and House of Stereo might also be a place to try.

With this amount of opinions you can pretty much do anything and youll be fine .  

Lol! True davekayc! What I am looking for in these posts are multiple recommendations for an amp/preamp/digital gear/speakers. If I get multiple recommendations from these audio loving good people I know to take a hard look at it. An example is people recommending tube amps. I don't know the maintenance involved (tube replacement) and cost, but if that is the best way to a great system, will play loud and clean, I will definitely be considering it. Class A amps is another option. Speakers will be my choice and the best I can find. Digital equipment scares me, I want a media player not a wireless player, and I'm hoping to incorporate a DAC/headphone amp/cd player/cd ripper or as much as I can into one player. It seems to me the technology is really ramping up on this gear. The Innous Zen MK3 and the Bluesound Vault seem to be the most popular. Thanks to everyone, these posts are helping me a great deal!!!