Congrats, Xavier. Putting together a good and enjoyable stereo system, even when some of the very best components are at ones disposal, is still no easy task for a variety of reasons.
The skills behind tuning components together, staying on top of tube quality and singling out factors that would contaminate impressions, and especially to monitor these factors in in order to maintain an even modestly scientific control over most variables while making changes, well it ends up being both a science and an art to cultivate and maintain good sound in the home. And often times there is some hard work involved. But. The payback is huge.
Its sortof like once a particular level of satisfaction of ones own proficiency at these skills and they start to become automatic, that there is an opportunity for much more time being spent just listening to music, and the work it took to get there fades into memory.
Cheers to this stage in your journey. The music is what its all about.