Audiophilia Newbie Looking to Expand System


Hello Everyone,

I am a newbie to Sterephile equipment and I wanted to get advice on some possible Speakers and maybe an amp or receiver. Here is the equipment I have so far:

Pioneer PL-514 modified with some insulation upgrades and a Shure V-15 3 with Ed Saunders Needle.

Pioneer BDP-51FD Blu-Ray player (it has 4 Wolfson DAC's)

Sony STR-DA1E 5.1 Channel Receive running 2 Pansonic bookshelfs in stereo and a center and 2 rear surround Sony's (All horrid speakers).

Polk Audio RM1000W 10" subwoofer (no amp yet).

Cables:
DH Labs Silver BL-1 (Silver over copper)
Zu Audio Oxyfuel
HomeGrown Audio Super Silver (Pure silver)
BlueJeansCable Belden with Canare connectors.

I am debating whether to just leave the 5.1 Channel Receiver and get a good stereo amp for the Turntable that I can also run a SACD transport on. I would love to get a Tube amp but unfortunately all of them seem to be stratospheric in price. My price range is in the $100-$200 range I want something used that's not been outsourced to a developing country (AKA Made in Europe, USA, or Japan).

I have seen many B&K receivers sell in this range and I really like the Onkyo TX-NR5000E although I have yet to see one used anywhere. Another option is a Marantz SR 8000 or 9000. So these might be an option but I don't know how much of a sound difference they would give.

As far as speakers go I have seen many on craigslist for the $100-200 range, especially Polk Audio. Any recommendations as far as speakers? I want them to be aesthetically pleasing as well as for them to sound good.

Any advice you can give this newbie would be great. I have been reading Good Sound by Laura Dearbourne and it has really been an eye opener for me! Thank you all in advance and I am very much looking forward to all your replies.
baronkatz
I was thinking of maybe getting a tube amp but can't afford anything in my price range. The only thing I found in teh $100-$200 range is a Hybrid Tube amp by Luxman such as the LV-103 and LV-105. Are these worth the money or is there something better out there for the price?
So I've decided to upgrade my speakers first and upgrade my receiver/amp/preamp later. So I am debating between two options: passive speakers directly to receiver or active speakers via a preamp. I want to get The speakers I have been seeing in my price range so far include:

Mirage M-790's

JBL Northridge E90's or 100's

ADS L1290 or L1590 (If I can find them in my price range)

Polk Audio Towers

Paradigm Export Bipolar

B&O Penta (Built in amplifier). For these speakers or Active ones, I would get a pre-amp. Has anyone any experience with the DavidYeeAudio Tube Preamps or Amps? How about something like the Luxman LV-103 or 105 Hybrids? They seem pretty inexpensive but I'm not sure how the sound quality is on them... Supposedly they are handmade by him in Canada.

Please help me narrow down the list to see what the best would be within my budget. I could also get Spica TC-50s or something similar but I prefer Towers... If you have any that should be removed from the list or any other ones I should be searching for to add to the list please let me know. I am looking for the best sound quality possible within my budget but also with a decent design (I prefer Black speakers that look sleek, not old looking brown 70s style ones). I prefer Speakers from the 80s-90s or perhaps the early 00s at the latest. Thank you!
Well it looks like my needs have changed... Unfortunately my dad does not have room for towers or bookshelf's at all in his small living room. Therefore, he wants speakers he can hang up on the wall that will look sleek and flat.

Some of the ones I have been thinking of were the B&O Beovox/Beolab - 3000/4500/5000 series or the Morel SP1's.

Can anyone comment on either of these and please suggest more as both of these are hard to come by.

Thank you!