The recordings have gotten so good, that it has moved the point of diminished returns with regard to gear much lower. I no longer yearn for the next upgrade. They have fixed pretty much all the complaints I ever had even on the more budget side of things. It's a great time to be alive in audio.
There is a handful of us that keep the "Musical Goodness" sub forum pretty active. It's obvious there are frequent and lengthy sessions happening. I am a daily session music head. Knowing I am going home to it makes me have better days at work. I listen at work and in the truck as well. I sleep to soft jazz most nights, having had full intention to listening but never making it past the first couple songs. Wake up and it prompts me to turn it up.
My bedroom speakers were a kit that cost $165 and are a favorite that actually make me smile when I listen to the dang things. My main system is currently employing second hand JBL speakers from their budget line years ago, even though I have better speakers.
I got hooked on songs when I was a kid on the mono speaker in the dash of my mom's Rambler station wagon and on the portable record player on my bedroom floor playing 45s. Songs by the Beatles, 5th Dimension, Gary Puckett, the Monkees, Turtles. . .
When I read here, I am prompted to listen to music, and vice versa. I have enough speakers to last the rest of my days, and my sons days as well. Outside of the better materials used now, recording quality upgrades has futureproofed the designs probably more than any other thing. That and perhaps letting subwoofers take much of the heavy load off of them, and the amps for that matter.