CHecking tubes?

Connections ... connections .... Oh yeah! Also, problem with a seriously crappy cd-player, and speakers where we used to put them in the 60s--jammed into the shelves of a bookcase. Thanks.

Have you cleaned all the connections sometime in the last 50 years? :) Seriously, though, maybe cleaning all of the connections would help. Worn preamp tubes generally sound dull, rolled off highs and flabby bass- at least on my old ARC preamp.

You can invest in a tube tester also it might work out well if a group of audiophile friends go in on it together. A simple emmisions tester shouldn't cost all that much.
As for speakers that is always a matter of personal taste many love the vintage sound .
I own old (1959) JBLs and Klipsch La Scalas from the mid 1970s. I have to sell the Klipsch soon but will keep the JBLs. I also own Klipsch Heresy from 1976 which I hope to keep but I don't have enough space after a forced down sizing. Never mind my Focals and Von Schweickerts. OY!

Hi Jadane

Is there a pro audio shop or guitar store near any of the places you visit? They could maybe test the tubes there for you to see if there are any issues with them. Maybe Jolida in Maryland can help you with the issues are experiencing in your system. Also could the crossovers in the KLH speakers need refurbing? Do you have another amp/integrated to test your KLH speakers with?

Good luck with your trouble shooting.