I agree with Philjolet that your interconnect, speaker wire and for that matter..power cables make a big difference. For your budget, you can stick your toe in the water of the low end of high end. Everyone here started like you are. Consider that you would be introducing 2 very inexpensive power supplies and power cords along with interconnects and you will be "missing" something that will send you into tweakers hell.
In your price range, try a Unison Research UNICO or a LFD Mistral integrated. I owned a UNICO and it was a wonderful integrated with a WHOLE lot of strengths. I currently have a BAT VK300xSE and I do not plan on going to separates anytime soon. I have upgraded cables and wish I had started there with the UNICO rather than trying to solve my desire for "more" by buying "boxes".
Do what you want as it is your money and your ears, although each option you have described above I believe would be far inferior to either the UNICO or the Mistral. If you are not afraid of used, you are on the perfect website to find a great deal of value. You can find SIM's, Unico's, Mistrals and Musical Fidelity gear already depreciated into your budget. There is an AMAZING difference when you step up above your budget as you will mostly find attention to the details that only a reasonable amount of additional money will make available.
Good luck on your quest and do what you like. All of us who have the time to "chill" on this web site have probably overanalyzed everything to the point where the law of diminishing returns has surely kicked in. Check out Ridge Street Audio cables New or used and synergistics used. BTW, what front end are you using. Rega has a good CD player but I am unimpressed with the sonics of their amplification.
In your price range, try a Unison Research UNICO or a LFD Mistral integrated. I owned a UNICO and it was a wonderful integrated with a WHOLE lot of strengths. I currently have a BAT VK300xSE and I do not plan on going to separates anytime soon. I have upgraded cables and wish I had started there with the UNICO rather than trying to solve my desire for "more" by buying "boxes".
Do what you want as it is your money and your ears, although each option you have described above I believe would be far inferior to either the UNICO or the Mistral. If you are not afraid of used, you are on the perfect website to find a great deal of value. You can find SIM's, Unico's, Mistrals and Musical Fidelity gear already depreciated into your budget. There is an AMAZING difference when you step up above your budget as you will mostly find attention to the details that only a reasonable amount of additional money will make available.
Good luck on your quest and do what you like. All of us who have the time to "chill" on this web site have probably overanalyzed everything to the point where the law of diminishing returns has surely kicked in. Check out Ridge Street Audio cables New or used and synergistics used. BTW, what front end are you using. Rega has a good CD player but I am unimpressed with the sonics of their amplification.