New amp or new cd player?

thanks for all the responses.

Blindjim: Interconnects is probably the thing I am most skeptical about. How much do i need to spend to get a good pair of interconnects? I just bought the monsters as a starting point because i didnt want to have to spend 500 dollars or more for interconnects, especially with the onkyo cdp.

Mlauner/Markwatkiss: So a new high end cd player would produce a very obvious and dramatic improvement?

Magnumpi: A good DAC used with my onkyo cdp should produce an obvious improvement?

I guess my overall question to everyone, is how much improvement are we talking about? Is it worth 1500$ on a dac, or 2K on a cdp, or whatever I decide to spend. I know this is a personal decision, as far as whether the difference is worth it, but I mean, in relative terms, how much difference are we talking?

Thanks again
James

Jylee: Assuming all entry level cdps around 1500-2000 sound the same, i would also assume they sound much better than my 150$ onkyo dvd/cdp?

i am more confused now because it seems everyone has a different opinion, and i pretty much have different people suggesting almost every possibility. haha. not that im complaining. i am glad to have so much input on this topic. thanks everyone.

Thanks for all the responses. I actually just ordered some Transparent MusicLink Super IC's. Was thinking about picking up a bel canto 2 dac, but didnt see any available here on Audiogon.

Still thinking about buying a used cdp, 2K$ and under.
Maybe the classe 102, mac 201, or even the naim 5i.

I am definately interested in going the hard disk route, just havent decided what the best way to implement it would be. I have all my music on itunes from now on my laptop, but it is encoded in 192kps AAC, so that i can fit my entire collection on an ipod classic (and so it fits on my laptop for that matter). I am thinking about buying a apple mini, or whatever its called, and hooking that up to my system and my flat screen, and using it solely as a music server. Basically it would be like a more expensive apple tv, although I would have the ability to burn cds directly to it in a lossless format without affecting my collection of aac files for ipod use. I like simplicity and I dont want a buncha different little boxes in my av unit. BUt thats another issue, and how I should implement that is a whole 'nother thread.. Looking forward to responses when I get around to asking that question..

Bjesien:

Perhaps this is a little too abstract of a description but I feel like right now my system sounds very good (this is my first endeavor into high end audio), but there is nothing amazing about it. I guess I would like a deeper soundstage, and more of a three dimensioanl feeling to the sound. When I auditioned the gallo's they were being powered by a marantz reference amp, and they sounded more spectacular, atleast in the highs. Honestly, I prefer the balance of the sound with my 6450 over the marantz, but the soundstage and imaging were better with the marantz..There was more space and air with the marantz Maybe this was the room?

What do you think of picking up a classe cap-2100 here on audiogon to replace the mac? I like the look of the mac alot, and I would rather try other things before switching the amp, but Ive heard very good things about the cap-2100. I have heard the cap2100 with b&w 805s and really like it, but i guess Id have to do a direct comparison with it and my mac to see if thats the difference im looking for.

I also like the bass/treble controls on the 6450. I havent ever had to use the treble control yet, but I do like using the bass control to thicken up thin sounding cds or adding extra bass punch in certain songs. I also like the 6450 because it is not as big as all the current macs. It seems the new ones are massive when they dont need to be. Their amps are way bigger than pretty much everyone elses.

As for now, I have new IC's on the way and I will probably update the cdp before changing out the mac.