Lorcar - apologies upfront for answering questions you did not ask, but I was in a similar situation when I got back into the hobby about four years ago, with a similar re-entry budget.
My first recommendation is that you determine what your three year budget is and do not spend more than half of that total. Your odds of nailing this the first time out are practically zero. You will end up tweaking, upgrading and experimenting.
Second, no matter what system you end up with, spend at least 500 hours listening to it and learning how to optimize it for your listening habits before you swap out any gear. I've moved my system at least four times as I've learned how I listen. Turns out I do much more solo listening than I thought I would and as a consequence I carved out dedicated space, which also influenced my ultimate gear selections.
Third, if possible go to audio shows. This is the easiest way to get exposed to all genres of gear and identify what you like and don't like, represented in the current SOA.
Fourth, speaker/amp matching and system synergy is paramount to performance so your technical questions are a good sign. An excellent primer on the technology that drives all stages of audio reproduction is "Audio & Hi-Fi Handbook", edited by Ian Sinclair. I have the 3rd edition which was published in 1998 but is very much current for all but the most modern technology and engineering.
Good luck.
BG
My first recommendation is that you determine what your three year budget is and do not spend more than half of that total. Your odds of nailing this the first time out are practically zero. You will end up tweaking, upgrading and experimenting.
Second, no matter what system you end up with, spend at least 500 hours listening to it and learning how to optimize it for your listening habits before you swap out any gear. I've moved my system at least four times as I've learned how I listen. Turns out I do much more solo listening than I thought I would and as a consequence I carved out dedicated space, which also influenced my ultimate gear selections.
Third, if possible go to audio shows. This is the easiest way to get exposed to all genres of gear and identify what you like and don't like, represented in the current SOA.
Fourth, speaker/amp matching and system synergy is paramount to performance so your technical questions are a good sign. An excellent primer on the technology that drives all stages of audio reproduction is "Audio & Hi-Fi Handbook", edited by Ian Sinclair. I have the 3rd edition which was published in 1998 but is very much current for all but the most modern technology and engineering.
Good luck.
BG