Finally stepping into the hobby after 30 years of watching from the sidelines

You certainly don't have to match front end the same way you do speakers and amp, but the question remains whether you match it at all or think of it as an independend unit. By the extension of it, do you match phono stage and preamp or preamp/amp unit?
Ideally, to my mind, everything must be matched and work as one single unit. In reality it is difficult or impossible to achive and not even easy to define exactly what you try match and in what sense. It is an art form in addition to science. And of course it can be quite subjective.
I, for example, would not consider Nottingham table if I wanted to play Wilson speakers. Don't ask me exactly why, I don't know, but in my view they would not work well together because they represent different approaches to sound reproduction. Nottingham and, say, Avalon speakers would probably be alright. Cartridge too, in my view, must somehow be matched with speakers not just table/arm/phono.
But that's another dimension. Any good table/arm/cartridge/phono will do, especially at this modest level. Still, given the choices, it may be worth thinking along the line.

cottguy, thanks for answering my question re your need for tube amplification.  I share you views about their sonic attributes, and as I said previously, I am a die-hard tube guy and I use a pair of powerful Manley monos that I would not trade for any ss amp that would be remotely in my price range.  I think you are going about this in a sober way and are sure to make the right decision for yourself.  Having said that, as I'm sure you know, there are always compromises that have to be dealt with unless the budget (and commitment) is limitless.  I also think it's fair to say that, all good and honest intentions aside, these threads are an opportunity for respondents to live vicariously through the OP to a degree.  With that in mind, when I consider all your goals for this system, and limitations,  one other scenario keeps coming up for me. 

As I read your descriptions of your room and your goals for this system one of the things that kept coming up in my mind was a system that I had years ago in a room similar to yours.  It was in a loft space with a very large listening area.  In that room, I achieved one of the most spectacular sounds that I have ever had from a system (there have been many)  or heard from any system; sadly, I have not been able to replicate that kind of sound in listening rooms that I have had since.  There is something very unique about the way that a pair of well placed planar speakers lock in with a room that can give an incredibly impressive soundstage.  Have you considered Magneplanars?  You want "wow factor" for your guests?  In all my years as an audiophile, no other component has elicited  more "wows" from guests than my Maggie MG3A's; not even my tube amps.  "WHAT ARE THOSE?".  "AMAZING?".  Great midrange and their best bass in larger rooms away from the rear wall.  Question: I am sure you have considered the issue of placement of your electronics, but do you really want a (or two) tube amp with exposed hot tubes in a common area where inexperienced admirers will be holding drinks and generally not being particularly cautious around equipment?  Additionally, to achieve that kind of sound Maggies need a lot of current from the amp; and wonderful results CAN  be achieved with the right ss amp.  You can have that "glowing tube effect" and a good degree of the warmth and musicality of tubes from a tube preamp placed in a less vulnerable location.  Just having a little fun and maybe this suggestion will be food for thought.  Good luck.

Frogman, those are very good ideas. I have owned planar speakers since I bought two of the first Magneplanar Tympani 1a speakers, December 1973. Talk about "WOW". Everyone agreed. Everyone. The apex for that kind of speaker, IMO, were the Tympani IVa’s from the 1980’s. They come up from time to time. Room filling, superb midrange, more than decent bass, easy to listen to for hours and hours. WOW **2.

I was on my way to doing that when I diverted myself into ESL’s (Quad 2905). Cottguy, be aware that Magnepan seemed to take a perverse delight in naming their speakers: Tympani 1 (3 panels per side); Tympani II (2 panels); Tympani III (4 panels), Tympani IV (3 panels). Not to be confused with the MG1, MG2, MG3 (all 1 panel). Confused yet? The best sounding Tympani 1’s were the 1a and 1d, and the better sounding IV’s were the IVa. Since they’re old, they’re cheap cheap.

Caveat - if you buy them, they CANNOT have sunlight on the back, otherwise the wires delaminate from the diaphragms. Make sure that you address that with the vendor - delamination or other deterioration presents as a rattle or no sound at all from a panel, when driven at highish volume.

Check with Magnepan if they still service them, though I’ll bet they do. Service consists of removing the old wire and glue with acetone and gluing new wire directly to the diaphragm. It needs a jig and dedication and is definitely not a DIY project.

But VERY WOW if you get the right pair.

Good luck!!! And good suggestion, frogman.

Rogue m150 in ultralinear mode will run the maggies nicely.

I have had quite a few maggies and sold them for a number of yrs . There are imo very few spkrs that can compete with maggies in the proper situation for the bucks . They like power and are 4ohms . I loved my mg3a cj tubes pre and power , biamped with a krell , few other bottom end ss amps also . Pair a planer, tube combo properly with subs imo and your wow factor is thru the roof imo and with a good  vinyl rig and ya better get ready it will be impressive to hear and see . Your room may work pretty well ,tympani are big boys .. I can say you will be spending big bks even used to get tube power with big maggies . Opinions opinions but 150 would be the bottom end in a large room .. Cool thing about your setup is they will throw sound in both directions . My current room is too small for big maggies or i would have them ..
good luck cotton
i’ve watched this from the start for you and its been fun to read along .