I assembled a fully vintage second system several years ago, largely out of pieces I owned 50 years ago. The system--which is based on the original Quad Loudspeaker (aka the '57), uses Quad II amps (they may each make 14 watts on a good day), a McI 110z tuner-preamp (something I bought for this system since I didn't want to spend for a Marantz 7 or ARC SP3-a-1). The turntable is a Technics SP-10 that I have owned since new, circa 1973.
Everything was restored-- Kent McCollum did the Quads, Bill Thalmann did the electronics and turntable, adding a new plinth. I stuck a Kuzma 4 Point 9" on it, and have room for a 12" arm as well. I did spend money on the glass- the Quad IIs use real GEC KT-66s that I found NIB a number of years ago. The McI-- which has a boatload of tubes- has all fresh old stock glass as well.
This system can prove how far we have not come in approximately 60 years. It is extremely engaging, somewhat forgiving and the tubes tend toward the warmer sweeter side. I think this system sounds better than it did when I was running it in 1975 using all ARC electronics. Back in the day, I added Decca, later Sequerra ribbon tweeters, tried various subwoofers, but getting them to gel with the Quads was a challenge.
Today, I run this system as God and Peter Walker intended- straight up, no embellishments. It does not have the range, dynamics or scale of the big horn/woofer system upstairs, which relies on SET amps and a host of woofers and subs for foundation.
It is an acquired taste in terms of aesthetics, sort of British post-war industrial modern.
I learned to listen on the Quads-- and despite their significant limitations, they are still regarded (at least by us old timers) as a reference. On occasion, I will play them for a visiting audiophile who has never heard them. They are usually amazed at their midrange coherence.
They still give me a point of reference and also remind me of where I was in 1975, which was not a bad place.