Need Help With My First Real Purchase

The last audio equipment I bought was a Sony Home Theater in a box -- purchased in 1998. Before thought, I bought a Sharp Minisystem thing, in 1983. (And various CD players.)

I have a real job and a real apartment, and I'm ready to get some real-er equipment.

At the moment, I'm usuing mostly for music. I've got a 10 year old Sony XBR 32" tube tv, and the picture is too good for me to replace it with a flatscreen. I've been listening to the sound off the tv's speakers, and that's fine for me. However, when I buy my equipment now, I think I want the flexibility for 7.1 (or 8.1) in the future.

Almost all my CDs are burned into iTunes, and I'd like the ability to keep playing them wirelessly, either through the airport express, or some other wireless media player.

I went to a place in Manhattan called Stereo Exchange (Broadway, around Bleeker), and here's what they recommend:

Receiver: Either the Rotel RX-1052 (for stereo) or the Rotel RSX-1058 (to keep the home theater option open). The RSX is about $1,200 more. Also, a few friends of mine told me to just buy an Onkyo HT receiver for $800.

Speakers: Right now, I just want two. I'm not into big speakers. Sonus Faber is slightly out of my price range. The stereo shop was pushing Totem Rainmakers. The reviews I've read are pretty good.

Turntable: Pro-Ject RM-5 with a Blue-point #2 cartridge.

Any thoughts?

Yup. I'd like to keep it around $4,000. My room is about 500 square feet (standard NY apartment). I listen to a range of music, but mostly jazz (50s, 60s be-bop), classical piano/violin and blues. I don't listen very loud, cause I don't want to disturb my neighbors. With my current system, the sound sucks unless I turn it up.

I've listened to the Totems, and like them. The store I went to didn't have many speakers in my price/size range. Most were over $2K a pair.