Welcome to the fray!
I started building my system in the 80's with BPB's. I had a self-imposed $100 limit back then (about $285.00 in today's money) for each component. I got a lot of crappy stuff. Being a musician, I wanted better, and started buying used, high-end stuff. The high end, has a high and low end within it as well... So, I ended up with Aragon, PS Audio and ultimately Counterpoint stuff. Also, Sony, Teac and Thorens.
Sony makes decent stuff that functions and is durable enough- some of the other lower end 80's stuff (from any maker) has issues with the plastic buttons and switches failing. The 70's stuff used more metal. A lot more. Like Sgt. Shultz, I have a stack of Kenwood components. Same tape deck as him (two KX-1030's) but a KA-9100 integrated, KT-8300 tuner (which started me down the Kenwood rabbit hole) and a KD-5070 table. This stuff is built SOLID. Sony ES is worth seeking out. These components often look the same as the lower end counterparts, but better mechanical and electrical build. Some came with polished wood "cheeks" as well. Still quite sharp looking.
In my case, I just decided one day I wanted a stack of silver face components. I found myself of FMtuner.info (I think that's the site) where I learned all about the Kenwood L0- series (FM only) tuner and the second place KT-8300. From there, I sought out the other "top" (outside the true top L0-) gear from ~1977 and built my system. I even have Kenwood speakers to go with it. Just because.
I guess my point is that you need a place to start and then you can decide your path.
And if you want "black face" components, note the Sansui had some really slick looking separates with a black face and a tan/cream dials and meters in the 70's that I really like the look of. Overall, from the 70's I think they had the best look in a sea of silver. Their tuners were quite good too actually.
My everyday listening system is a Pioneer SX-880 I repaired and restored. That is fed by a Tascam CD player/recorder, my phono preamp (Wyn Palmer circuit) and the magnificent Micro-Seiki BL-91 turntable. Now, Micro is interesting in that their stuff is really well engineered, looks fantastic, and is so overbuilt, it should still be working perfectly 40-50 years on. I did rebuild the power supply (also did a small mod to accommodate 120V as it was originally 100V only) A BL-71 for example is the upper low-end from Micro and better than 90% of the competition. The -91 is the bottom of the upper end, but next is the 111 which has a vacuum clamp that I wasn't interested in, and then they get a bit wacky looking (which many like, and the prices reflect this).
Research! The specs are okay for comparison, just bear in mind those were on brand new gear under laboratory conditions. If you can find old reviews in Stereophile (most lower-end stuff is not covered) they use a standardized test method, which makes comparisons a bit more valuable. The caveat is you need to have heard at least one component in a comparison list as an "anchor" to understand the comparisons that might be made.
Good luck! It's fun and frustrating at the same time!
