Got back into it in 2007 as in my name, although had half decent kit as a teenager and spent many years recording.
Been through open baffles, front horns and bass reflex single driver all diy with valve amps of various types. Dismissed solid state based on early ss guitar amps being lifeless. Had belt drive, meh, idler drive, bit more like it and lastly direct drive, spot on speed and straight from cold. Had mc carts, happy with mm, Shure ultra and currently Decca mk4. What have I learned? Room treatment or a good room is key.
I like horns and single driver but the Zu's do it for me in a small room. Old jap crap solid state receiver does bass control better than expensive single ended valves but still good enough in the midrange and top end and at 1/15th of the price.
I wouldn't say I'm done as only recently did I try the Decca even though I'm content. I just rarely see anything for sale that can tempt me.
Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers
Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house
Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck
System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.