Digepix. I know exactly what you are talking back. Its not that you like the sound of you old amp better, it's just more forgiving on lesser recordings. Very common problem. A lot of people make that mistake: they run around with a bunch of audiophile CD's to test and set up the equipment and when they listen to what they really like, they realize a mistake was made. I can give 2 suggestions. 1. Since you still have your old system, keep it and just use it for certain problem recordings. 2. Get an eq. Run a straight cable from your CD player to the preamp and another one from the CD player to the eq. Then take another IC and go from the eq to a different input on your preamp. That way you can switch back and forth.
Is upgrading worth it?
I know I'm probably asking the wrong folks. I'm sure most people would upgrade their system any chance they got but at what price? I noticed the more I try to improve my system the less my music collection become listenable. Higher resolution? So much of the music I enjoyed growing up sounds more listenable on my 1970's Marantz receiver and Advent speakers so anything I do now seems like a step backwards. I need to have two systems, one for high quality audiophile approved music and a system for all the rest. Does anyone else feel this way?