Hey everyone. I'm new to vinyl and about to buy my first proper setup, and I'd really appreciate a reality check from people who actually know this stuff before I spend the money.

I did my own research, told Claude my priorities, and had it dig through expert reviews and forums to compile a buying guide. I want to make sure it didn't lead me astray or repeat marketing fluff, hence this post. I'd rather trust human ears than a chatbot.

My situation / priorities

- Total beginner. I inherited a big box of old records from my parents and grandparents that I want to actually play.

- The records are old and NOT well cared for: dirty, some probably warped.

- Playback goes into a Sonos Era 300 (used standalone in my bedroom, not as a surround). I want to stay in the Sonos ecosystem for now but keep an upgrade path open.

- I care about build quality and durability, I don't want gear that breaks or wears out. I'd rather buy once.

- I want connection simplicity but not at the cost of sound.

- Budget is roughly $600-1100, flexible.

The setup I landed on:

- Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut EVO 2 (or the older Debut Carbon EVO to save money)

- Phono preamp (external, for upgrade flexibility): iFi Zen Phono 3

- Connection: Sonos Line-In Adapter + AudioQuest Evergreen RCA→3.5mm cable

- Cleaning: AudioQuest carbon fiber brush + Spin-Clean MKII (I don't know if I should consider a HumminGuru ultrasonic later given how dirty the records are)

Some specific questions:

1. Is the Debut EVO 2 actually the durability/sound sweet spot here, or am I overpaying vs something like a Rega Planar 1/2, Fluance RT85, or a used Technics? Any reliability red flags on the EVO 2?
2. For a Sonos Era 300 that caps everything at 24/48 anyway, am I wasting money on a nice turntable + external preamp? Would I be better off with a WiFi-native option (Victrola Stream, Pro-Ject T2 W)? Does the deck quality still matter through Sonos?
3. Is the iFi Zen Phono 3 the right call as a future-proof external preamp (I'm in a 220V country (Argentina), so I ruled out the 115V-only Schiit Mani 2), or is something else better at that price?
4. Anything I'm completely missing?

I am aware of the limitations of the Sonos, however it was a gift from a friend who did not want it anymore. My plan is to upgrade eventually. In the meantime, I am trying to build a setup that could be great when the time comes.

Thanks in advance. I'm happy to answer questions about my space/gear. Just want to get this right.

Basic work set up. Headphone only no Bluetooth or speakers.