Anyway, I would not rush with the choice of a turntable, I would first settle the amp/speakers question. And you are absolutely right in refusing to buy any speakers without auditioning. At the very least you need to know the brand's sound signature. Also, some speakers have a very long breaking-in time, hundreds of hours, so what you hear at demos may not be how speakers can sound. Other pieces too, just normally not that long except some power cords.
As for the question of how to divide $10k, there is no one correct answer, it also depends on how lucky you are if you buy used. However, in your case it appears that the tube amp is going to be the most important element of the system and so it must be satisfactory, though not necessarily the most expensive. Some $3k new speakers can sound surprisingly good with excellent source and amplification. My amp cost as much as the speakers and my analog front end is more expensive than they both combined, but not by much.
As for the question of how to divide $10k, there is no one correct answer, it also depends on how lucky you are if you buy used. However, in your case it appears that the tube amp is going to be the most important element of the system and so it must be satisfactory, though not necessarily the most expensive. Some $3k new speakers can sound surprisingly good with excellent source and amplification. My amp cost as much as the speakers and my analog front end is more expensive than they both combined, but not by much.
