New Speaker advice

Thank you Soix...I have often considered the same thing re: the addition of a high quality preamp. One of the reasons I went with the Denon AVR is because I needed HT functionality for movies and tv...but that Denon AVR line has a 'pure direct' mode where it supposedly shuts off the internal amps completely and sends a 'pure' signal from amps to speakers...so that's what I use in 2 channel listening...but I am suspicious of it still bottlenecking as you describe, so I appreciate hearing it from you as well...confirms my suspicion(s). cheers.

Thanks Lanx0003. I should have mentioned in the system profile above that I am running a pair of SVS SB2000's, as well as an SVS ultra center speaker. I don't really use them with the Vandersteens during 2 channel listening, but do engage them when watching movies. I assumed that with both Revels, and the Sourcepoints, I would likely use the subs with music. 

Thanks Soix. Really appreciate it. I was under the 'illusion' that I was taking advantage of a separates system when listening to two channel by using the preamp section of the Denon...what you're saying makes SO MUCH sense...has me thinking that I should make this change before new speakers even. The Vandersteens I have, I inherited from my dad who passed a couple of years ago. They are about 25 years old, and I remember them sounding sublime (albeit in a very tight listening area!)...but in my system, they sound quite veiled and choked...which is a criticism those speakers have earned over the years...but yes, maybe I should try preamp upgrade first! Thanks again

Testrun, I don’t dislike the 3A’s per se...they have a good soundstage, and the midrange is awesome...and I have a lot of sentimental attachment to them because they were my dad’s and he got me into hifi. It’s just that they have a very narrow sweet spot where they sound best and soundstage is good...and with my open floorpan, I’m curious to hear something that has a better off axis horizontal response. Also as mentioned, the 3As sound a bit veiled and lack the ’sparkle’ that I’ve heard in some newer speakers (the ones I’ve been auditioning). All that said, I’m really taking the preamp upgrade suggestion to heart, and will maybe start there first.

I really appreciate all the feedback from everyone! I’ve been reading these forums for years, and it really feels like a community, and as a relative newcomer / rookie to hifi, I’m really grateful for the support! I used to talk with my dad about all this stuff, but since his passing, I just inherited his gear and not as much of his wisdom as I would have liked. Anyway, wish I could take y’all out for a beer or coffee and really pick your brain(s) more!! This thread has me convinced on a two-pronged attack...I feel that upgrading the Vandys is definitely in order, but the suggestion to go with a dedicated separate preamp is well taken and also now part of the plan. Based on recommendations here, I am really interested in the Focal Electra line with the beryllium tweater. I’m in Philadelphia, and there are a few options on the used market within a 3-4 hour drive...the 1028 towers as well as the 1007 and 1008 bookshelves (which would surely prompt me to go dual sub). Additionally, I have a lead on a pair of Focal Aria 936 that are less than a year old and meticulously cared for with an asking price of $1800...I have seen and heard those in person, and they are mint. There’s also a set of Revel f206 in my area, which are also in mint condition for $1600...also seems like a bargain. The Sourcepoints are still under consideration based sheerly on store auditions alone...not sure I love the form factor of those though, they seem to be stuck between bookshelf and small floor stander....and they're also still so new that they're hard to find for under $3500 a pair. Anyway, options...On the preamp front, I am inclined toward older, 'analog' options, AR certainly being top of the list for synergy with the D300...to that end, PASS LABS units are out of my price range, but I'm intrigued by the Nakamichi CA-5 (version one) as it's a Nelson Pass design...additionally, the Topping Pre90 interests me due to it's simplicity and potential synergy with the D90 DAC...but being that I’m also running HT through the system, I’m cognizant of the bypass options or lack there of, and reluctant to go down the road of unity gain or gain matching etc. Anyone have any experience with integrating older preamps (w/o HT bypass) into HT systems via unity gain of the like? Again, thanks to everyone for your thoughtful and generous responses. cheers.

@soix, 

whew Nelly! David Lewis Audio! That’s some high end stuff! I have an appointment with them on Monday 😬…will definitely audition Joseph Audio and ProAc…thanks for the rec @soix, and all the advice in general. I just hope I don’t fall in love with a pair of $6,000 speakers!!

Update!

First of all thanks to everyone here! This thread was so helpful and I appreciate the generosity and advice from y'all. I ended up purchasing a pair of MoFi Sourcepoint 8’s. They are bringing everything I was missing with the Vandersteens, detail, clarity, neutrality…air…all those buzzwords. I’m supplementing the loss in lower frequencies with a Velodyne subwoofer. But! The biggest leap forward in sound was the addition of a dedicated preamp into the chain, so thank you @soix and others for that invaluable suggestion! Looking for synergy with the ARC D300 solid state amp, I went with an ARC SP-16 tube pre with HT bypass, and I must say…it’s wonderful!!! So open and transparent, the veil is been lifted as it were! I can’t believe I went for so long using that damn AVR as a preamp! I It’s night and day…game changer…all those expressions are apt! Even the Vandersteens sound better!

I’m having an issue on the digital side of things however. When streaming through the blusound and external Topping D90, everything sounds bloated and bass boomy. I should mention that when listening to the Sourcepoint 8’s The Velodyne subwoofer is ported with on board crossover and volume controls. The Vandys being more full range, I run without the sub. Anyway, with the ARC SP-16 now in the chain, I honestly prefer the system sound better when using the internal DAC of the blusound node over node + topping D90. This seems crazy to me though given how much “better” the D90 is as a DAC. I run the D90 in DAC mode only (not the default preamp mode), I have also experimented with different signal options, coax, optical etc. But again, I’m finding that with the D90 in the chain, everything sounds bloated, and boomy…I have to turn the sub volume way down, almost to zero! Overall volume and gain seems to be boosted with the D90 in the mix as well. When I take the D90 out and just use the internal DAC of the node going directly into the line stage of the ARC SP 16, everything seems to improve…more focus, air, clarity etc…less bloat…the subwoofer and low frequencies are much easier to tame, dial in etc. Again, given the supposed differences in the quality of these respective DACs, I’m truly perplexed by this…is this a case of perhaps too many components in the chain?? I know it’s tough to access without hearing in person or seeing my system up close but does anyone have any theoretical thoughts?

Anyway, it’s an ok problem to have…given that everything sounds SO MUCH better with the dedicated preamp, so again, thanks to all for that advice! :)