What would be your advice for building a system for the first time?

[Antonmb]

I think Cyril's recommendations are great for a beginner who doesn't have the experience. The only thing I would add is that, if you really are a neophyte and you just want a good system to play your music, a really good dealer can be invaluable. He or she should be able to work with you to develop a synergistic system to meet your needs in your space. The good ones will come to your home, let you try out different combinations of components and speakers, and then help you dial it all in.