I think we sometimes make it too complicated. It helps, of course, to have dealers or others that you can trust for guidance. There are tons of readily available information for the discerning- sometimes too much. At the end of the day, how does it sound to you? Its not about trying to meet some mythical technical standard, or building a system according to what others think. Its not splitting atoms-its just finding equipment in your price range that make listening enjoyable, relaxing and keeps you coming back.
Once you do that, there is always room for improvement but you've crossed the line.