Starting a component system

[raffir]

I think that I'd like to start putting together a component system to last for many years to come.

The idea is that I'd start by building components one at a time, and replace them with better ones as funds/skills/time made more elaborate constructions possible.

Right now, I'm starting fairly new, with limited funds and a dorm room in which to put things. I've built a couple small amplifiers before (nothing special, mainly headphone amps which consisted of soldering kits together) and one pair of speakers (once again, nothing special, standard sealed boxes).

I'm thinking of building a pair of small monitors, possibly by putting a pair of FE-103s into an appropriately-sized pair of PVC pipes. I'd also like to build some kind of amplification setup. Long-term, I suppose I'd like to end up with some sort of solid-state amplifier (possibly a Gainclone variant) and a tube preamp.

Right now, though, I'd like to put together a kit, if nothing else toward the end of getting my bearings after a while away from soldering. I'm thinking of putting together the K-12M amplifier (or, possibly, the monoblock equivalents). I'm just not sure if this is a detour from an ends of a SS amplifier with a tube preamp. I'd try to put something liket that together (possibly using a Sonic Impact fontend), but it looks like all the tube preamp kits available are significantly more expensive than that integrated stereo tube amp.

Thoughts?