my ideal system, back in 1967, was 2 pair of stacked quads, a mac c 22 preamp, 2 pair of quad 15/watt per channel mono blocks, a thorens td 124, with ortofon arm and cartridge.
i found that system so timbrally accurate that i have not heard anything available today, which approaches the sound i had in 1967.
i think the problem stems from the design criteria of current manufacturers which focus upon resolution but is lacking in listenability.
many of the products in production are fatiguing after long term listening.