Hi all sifus, i am a newbie to audiophile world and would like some recommendations from u all

Currently i am trying to build a hi-fi system with the source is my laptop, planning to get the Asus Essence One as DAC (Is it available here?) and also a bookshelves speaker as I have limited spaces.

I understand that I need to go for audition to pick the speaker myself but any recommended model for me as reference? I tend to listen to pop songs, with Celine Dion and Jacky Cheung are my best favourites. Budget can be around 2k-3k.

Besides that, do I still need a integrated amp to drive the speaker? Because I read that the Essence One already has an amp inside, but I am not sure whether it is enough to drive a bookshelves speaker.

Thanks in advance.

So you mean for home theater I should get a quality AV first, but if for stereo system I need to get a quality speaker first? But it seems like it oppose to what BOTAK_WAI has mentioned.
Actually my preference is to get a good speaker first also, as someone mentioned that speaker plays the most major role (correct me if i am wrong). Any good recommendation for speaker around rm2k?

Just got a pair of Wharfedale Denton, it's very good for small room, just need to burn in to open the sound, also I think it need more juice, but not at the moment, haha coz my wallet out of juice =.=

Hmm, tube got a cycle for "mood", lifespan is pretty troublesome for me to maintain, so I still prefer solid state integrated amp, currently using PM6005, the Wharfedale Denton getting better with it , next year will aim for amp with power around 100watts, sth like Rotel or Arcam?