If only it had been fully a gift ... I traded in a phono stage and paid up with a little help from a pre-inheritance pay-out from my mother (who was / is still alive last time I visited, two days ago).
I am geting closer to my final (very final) set-up:
Preamp: DIY DC B1 buffer (very good, but is there something better ...)
Power amp: EAR 516 (will stay)
Speakers: Quad ESL 57 (will stay)
Vinyl: Empire 698 (would like to let it stay but it will have to go, unless I sell off the SME V), SME 10 (will stay), SME V (may change this for another less expensive tonearm), Benz Micro Gullwing SLR , Paradise phono stage (forthcoming ... if I can afford this after the SME 10/SME V outlay)
Streaming: Jriver on Win 10 PC --> usb to Nuforce USB/SPDIF converter --> Line Magnetic 502CA: I feel this is as good as it gets without paying silly money and I have had a hard time getting better vinyl sound, so far.