i want better sounding speakers

I had to laugh when I saw your subject line. My first reaction was, "Don't we all?!" On second thought, however, I would like to recommend Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature Monitors as great "do it all" speakers at their price point. You can get them from Tyler Acoustics new for $2800 or his trade ins for about $2200. Used ones on Audiogon start at around $1600. For minitor type speakers these guys have outstanding bass which legitimately reaches into the 30 Hz range with authority, and they are pretty efficient, too.

As far as the hardware part of it goes I believe speakers leave the biggest "thumbprint," followed by amplification (the phono cartridge could be in second place if you're an LP kind of guy). Source material is, to me, a huge culprit when it comes to variability in the sound that reaches the listener. But the king of good or nasty influences has to be the room you are listening in. In the case of my recommendation (Tyler Linbrook Monitors) I would advise against them if you must put your speakers right against any wall.