I'm going with placement of speakers in your room. If you lack symmetry in my experience you can save yourself some money but going after stage too hard. If you have symmetry you need space to let the speakers reflect, breath, integrate into the room. If you are trying to shoehorn your stuff in the pantry, save yourself some money and go nearfield.
Treatment, source, pre, amp and cables. In my experience you have spend serious money if you want to get this to be excellent. Not so serious to be good and have fun.