For general info, Stereophile magazine is good. You can also search the forums. There is also an e-zine called Affordable Audio that has some decent info.

If you want specifics, people on here are more than happy to provide some. You're right in that you should decide between tube/solid-state, and also decide whether you want an integrated amp (pre+power) or separates (Preamp and power amp separate). You may want to go hybrid (either a hybrid integrated or a tube pre and solid state power amp).

You also should decide whether you want an integrated amp with a phono stage, or if you want to get a separate phono stage (if you don't already have one).
More important than the source, though, is the speakers. What speakers are you using?

Some random brands to look for: Jolida, Rotel, Marantz, and Onkyo to name a very very few.

By the way, that's a nice turntable.

Quote:
Hello,
I am a newbie to the world of Hi-Fi but would like to learn more. Can anybody give me suggestions on where to look for more information? Specifically, I would like to gain just some general knowledge on the differences between amps/pre-amps/tube vs. solid state, and how to select them (I know it's partially about taste). I am interested in upgrading my receiver for my turntable which is a Rega P3-- right now it's just running off of a cheap Yamaha receiver I picked up for a couple hundred bucks back in 04.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks very much!

here, fella. chew on those and let me know when you are ready for more...

http://forum.stereophile.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=51875&an=0&page=0#Post51875

also... check out Walter Sear's articles on his website..

http://www.searsound.com/philosophy.html

Robert Harley's book "Complete Guide to High End" is a really good read for someone just getting into the hobby too. It's written in such a way that goes form basic topics and builds to progressively more complex subjects with each cheaper dealing with a particular topic/component.