Accurate audio reproduction is still one of the joys of life for me. My system still amazes me. I would swear by Linn's amplifiers and speakers but would never buy new.
The secondhand market is a goldmine if you know what you're looking for and are capable of soldering/de-soldering.
Worked at an independent specialist when I was younger. We sold Spendor, Linn, Naim, Cyrus.
It reaches a threshold where for older ears, or those with poorer hearing you could certainly waste money.