I was forced into the audiophile world back in the 70's. I was a musician who had to quit the business before the music industry at that time could trap and destroy my soul. It was being destroyed by drugs, etc. You just could not find any musicians who were talented and clean living at that point in time... Long story short. With tears I quit the quest to make music live...
In my pain I sought music just the same. That is when I found myself engulfed in the budding audiophile world coming into its own. BSR corporation ( made turntables back then) had a factory warehouse a few miles from where I lived. Took a job there and started what was to be an education that has no graduating class. Always learning.
Where to start? With something objective. I learned a very big lesson in audio in my job that followed working for BSR. I entered the world of a brick and mortar Audio shop that sold high end equipment. Learned not to be afraid of audio equipment which can be intimidating while learning what one needs to know what he is doing. Best place to start? Speakers that you believe are excellent quality. For these will let you know how all the rest of your equipment will sound. The hard part is locating which excellent speaker is for your needs. One lesson I learned back in those days was that tube equipment was leaps ahead of solid state. That is why I chose my Nuprime ST-10. For its sounds in many ways like a McIntosh tube amp that I listened with back then. Only better in the tightness of the bass.
So... I tried several excellent quality small speakers for my audiophile desk top listening. The ones I have now are some of the most transparent speakers one can ask for with a desktop. They let you hear even slight changes made in the system. The ST-10 works hand in hand in the 'transparency' department. Now the speakers and amplifier are considered hi-end audio sound. The preamp that I found works beautifully with my ST-10? Is a super entry level passive pre-amp that so happens to have an excellent volume control (potentiometer) APLS Blue. It works great in balanced mode with the ST-10. Its cost? Peanuts! The audio snob would never give it s a thought. Bought it to be used as a preamp to try balanced mode and never looked back since....
Another important thing. Audio snobs are programmed to hate tone controls/ equalization, etc.
I broke all their rules by using a Barcus Berry BBE Sonic Maximizer. Good quality small speakers usually need no treble boost. Its their bottom that suffers in many rooms. It so happens that the BBE uses an excellent linear dynamic EQ to help small speakers in that area. Its not a boom box. It opens up the sound in a very realistic sounding way. I was tar and feathered in several forums when attempting to discuss the BBE.
Audio snobs are like religious fanatics. They will kill you if you mention what they consider to be blasphemy in their presence. Their loss- I have the "gain." Bass from small speakers in a near field situation can sound shockingly good with a BBE.
Once the speakers are established as acceptable? Its up to you where next to try. Cables Pre-amp and amp? Integrated?
I also chose a DAC that I busted the bank to get. Its something that I knew would have to sound good objectively. Not for everyone. A Schiit Yggdrasil. Could have bought an older used car with what I spent. But, I knew by its design that it objectively had to be doing things right.
The Nuprime ST-10 (TDSS modded)... and I are joined at the hip. Speakers may change at some point for a different flavor of excellent. But, I seriously doubt any need for a change in amplifier. The preamp? Mine is far from being an audiophile status symbol. Have a laugh and click link. But it sounds great with my system! https://www.amazon.com/Nobsound-Fully-Balanced-Single-Ended-Pre-Amplifier-Controller/dp/B01MXC9HHW
That means? No matter how cheap it may seem to be? If it sounds excellent? It stays!
(https://www.audiocircle.com/image.php?id=165719)