Why did you choose the components and speakers that are in your system?

I've played and listened to all kinds of music in my day, and I was lucky enough to live in a locale (Southern California) that had enough retail stereo outlets to allow me to audition whole rafts of hi-end components.  Eventually, I was able to assemble a system that could satisfy both my ears and my pocketbook.

1. Budget, including relative percentage of budget to to allot per component
2. Choosing the fewest possible components: turntable, mm cartridge (to avoid needing a pre-pre amp for a mc cartridge), CD/SACD player, integrated amp that included a good DAC, speakers, and power conditioner in my case. Fewer components, means fewer expensive wires impinging on component budget.
3. Getting recommendations on components in price range here on site, then researching, and auditioning, components,
4 Getting recommendations on cables, wiring and the like, and what wiring use to demo their components at shows, from manufacturers of components purchased.
5. Buying only new components from reputable manufacturers with a track record and longevity in the business. and from dealers who have been around a while too. Find out where each component is made, and completely avoid components manufactured in China due to endemic quality control issues there. Manufacturers who hide that their products are made in China are suspect.
6, Researching designing and installing shelving for components, and needed isolation accessories like Isoacoustic feet.
7. Ending up with a clean, uncolored, detailed and revealing sound within budget.

Mike

"I have an opportunity to build another system and I'm looking to mix up the sound I seek"

If you haven't heard the sound of speakers other than "typical box speakers" e.g. maggies, electrostatics, omnidirectionals, open baffles. you might listen to at least some of them.  

40+ years ago I gave up Rogers LS3/5As for Dahlquist dq 10 (open baffle) and still prefer other than "typical box speaker sound"..  A pair of spatial audio M3 triads just arrived. LSA bookshelf I have is wide dispersion and have a similar wide soundstage/sound.

Get rid of those crappy transparent speaker cables those resistor networks screw up everything if you really want to try a good speaker wire that just lets everything good or bad through switch to OCC single crystal wire it has been proven now for 40 years to be the best wire for audio.

Technics 1200G:
I really, truly wanted a nice belt drive. You know, thick and heavy platter, external power supply, no dust cover...something that just screams "I am an audiophile!". I was coming from an aging but perfectly functioning Technics SL1200-MK5...I wanted something different...kooler. Once again, I chickened out...I’m ashamed. But damn it sounds great! Best mistake I ever made! I still look at nice belt drives though. What’s nice is the detachable headshell...I have wood, magnesium and aluminum ones, Makes it fun. And the gold plated interface between tonearm and headshell is very legit...not an afterthought. The whole thing is bulletproof.

Don Sachs Model 2 Preamp:
Way too many people saying it blew away something that costs way more. He made mine with the old, first-gen full wood casing but has the full wave rectifier and all the new improvements. Like the 1200G, it is a legitimate end game unit.

Salk Songtowers:
Once the best part of my system...it’s now on the weaker side. It’s not super technical or precise...but it doesn’t do anything really bad either. It sounds good no matter where it’s placed. It’s the most forgiving speaker I’ve ever owned. It’s also the oldest component. The search is on for a replacement.

Primaluna EVO 400
I ordered a Don Sachs Kootenay. Waited forever for it and it arrived damaged and died shortly after. I sent it back to be repaired but asked for my money back because Don was being a bit of a jerk about the whole affair. Yikes, it sounded great. The Primaluna Evo 400 is close but not quite as detailed as the Kootenay. But it’s WAY more fun to play with tube rolling and it’s close enough. It also has a meatier sound than the Kootenay. Yes, I made another mistake...but I not worrying about it too much.

Project Phono Box RS
I was too cheap to buy the battery assisted power supply for $700. The 18v wall wart it came with produced an awful hum that I could not fix. Luckily someone on eBay makes a super quiet 18v outboard power supply with a grounded 3 prong receptacle...made specifically for the Phono Box RS for under $180.

I may not have super high end stuff. But I have a 6th sense about how to treat a room...and that goes a long way. The room is the other half of the equation...literally.