@hoping 66 years old, rock on brother and many good years remaining to enjoy some high end SQ that is emotionally moving and speaks to your soul
Some very good suggestions from other members
My quick .02 cents - If I were starting this hobby today and was looking for bang for the buck with the most immediate benefits I would start with a good purpose built all in one unit that does a very good job, though not the best, of all the feature functionality
I would couple it with a pair of loudspeakers at about 2 to 3 times the cost that are matched to the room and the amplifier
That unit for me is the PS Audio Stellar Strata, MSRP 3k US
That would leave you about 6-7k for speakers and cables
I don't have a particular speaker in mind but have had great experience with Revel
Here's a link from a review of the Strata
https://www.audiophilia.com/reviews/2021/7/16/ps-audio-stellar-strata
This group can be brutal sometimes
Having a laugh at someone else expense due to language or grammar barriers just doesn't add any value
None of us are above a fat fingered post and mistake from time to time
I can hardly keep up when English is my first language and honestly impressed with those that are able to do so when English is a second or even third language
I think the language disconnect tells us that perhaps the best level playing field and something we all have in common is our ears and what we hear
The strength of this community is our differences and all are welcome to contribute and learn
Happy Listening To All