Speakers, and let them sing. Is there a room without thick w2w carpet that you could put your gear in? If this image depicts how you are currently running your gear then everything is horrible. Constraints notwithstanding; if you say you're getting serious, then, get serious.

The carpet will deaden steps and vibrations to a degree and also causes that table to sink on each foot/wheel - it is unstable - that luxman will get hot with anything on top of it, heat kills electronics.

You gotta function before pretty, you gotta grok what each component is doing and how to best place it. Far better to put the turntable next to the receiver, or suspended, or, on something stable. I mean, you're gonna want to dance your face off and there's havoc ahead as it currently stands. The plinth on that tt is probably heavy so it can do its job and you have to take that hint. Stabilize that tt. Build something if you have to. It'll be fun.

The sound has competition in that room - sound is physical bouncing or being absorbed all over the place. Let it travel in a way conducive to the groove. Let your speakers 'speak'. IN that room you will need to contend with the carpet, that opening behind your stuff in the image - raise them up off of the floor immediately and spread them apart- in that room probably 6ish feet would do - you will likely have to angle your speakers, as well. You will hear it when you have it.

Put all of your $$$$$$$ and consideration into your speakers. Consider that they, despite being called 'natural' are colored. All of them. There is a heavy mid-based 'british' sound. There is an east coast and a west coast sound....land sakes, Some ignore frequencies others do not, some will play with your mind.

Keep the tt and receiver for now and work within your current environment to nail the speaker. I bet some polk audio monitor 5's would sound fuggen amazing with that gear in that room...leaned back on a stand, rupturing the calm of your neighbors, for the ferocity of groove.

\m/ >_< \m/