Thanks so much for the input. Finally decided to tackle putting this spaghetti tangle of wires all back in appropriate places. It took me a while but much to my amazement and gratification I finally managed it. I do get excellent sound quality from this system and even with my 43 year old turn table hooked into it, there is room for adding other components, if I should need them. I'm much less afraid of the set=up problems now, and can no eventually replace the good but old (so wont play all CDs) CD changer with one that I can record on as well.

Really appreciated the input...virtual hand-holding! Thx again.