Your step of asking specific questions here of experienced audiophiles is a good one. My suggestion is 1) don't rush your research, 2) research thoroughly, learning what to ask and how to respond to requests for more info, as there are many aspects of the upgrading process and even more opinions about it, and 3) again, move slowly.
The benefits of moving slowly when making purchase decisions as a beginner far outweight the fleeting gratifications of just getting something different, and quickly.