The cheapest path from nothing to a working retro corner.
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You do not need a shelf of original hardware to play the classics well. A sensible budget setup is one flexible device, one good video path, and one controller that feels right.
Buy in this order and you will never spend money on something the next purchase makes redundant.
A retro handheld or a mini PC covers dozens of systems for less than two original consoles. Start here and find out what you actually play.
The pad is what you touch. A good D-pad transforms the 2D library and costs less than almost anything else on this list.
Whether that is an HDMI adapter for a real console or a cable for the handheld's dock, this is what makes it a living-room thing instead of a desk thing.
Once you know which era you keep going back to, buy the real machine for that one. It is a much better purchase after six months of use than on day one.
A budget emulation handheld with games you already own, or the classic collections on a console you already have.
Eventually, and only for the systems you play most. Original hardware is the expensive step, not the first one.
No. A CRT is the most authentic option, but a decent upscaler on a modern TV is close and takes up far less space.