Newbie needs advice for upgrade.

maybe some Rega speakers for system synergy ... some of their older models are very inexpensive but sound great ... their floorstanders are full sounding and maybe a tad forward but are always a pleasure to listen to ... try to find a used pair of Jura's or similar if you don't want to spend a fortune. Email me privately for more info on Rega speakers if you wish

I'll ring in too with "Don't feel embarrassed". Look at the Legendary Audio gear thread. I began by making a audiophile notebook. I listed the most highly regarded components first from different references. Component matching becomes more and more important.

When my "Best List" was missing any real personal experience matching components, my personal notebook kept my sights clearer and loose ideas better grounded while reading forums, reviews and learning technical expressions.

Keep an eye on EBay and CraigsList. With a list in hand, you can much better land those separates. Occassionally, rare pieces appear that are little known. I never heard of 25 year old custom Yamaha ST-1 cathedral monitors and had this burning feeling. I reluctantly took off on a 4 hour road trip and came home with my new front mains. I'm so happy following this happenstance, haphazardous impulse and enjoying music/HT more than ever. I'd say they weigh in at least 200 pounds each.

Look up "craigsublist" for some good info on subs rated by both music and HT reproduction. No lists are all-inclusive. Good Luck and let us know what you chose and how it sounds.

I have a pair of Mackie 824 and Beringer Truth B2031A studio monitors. The Truths are good knock-offs of the Mackies. Both are good near-field studio monitors. My AVP2 manual recommends possibly using near-field monitors as rear surrounds, placed behind the listeners, in addition to higher mounted ceiling surrounds. The Proceed manual stated adding near-fields may add to the surround channels SQ depending on the room set-up.

I also use them with Roland TD-12's and a Roland GT-10. Very versitile, especially with a matching sub.

If you like PSBs, try some Energy RC-10s. They may not be especially "refined" but they have a full sound, very good bass, easy to drive (8 ohms, 88db), and forgiving of equipment.

..... and they are CHEAP. You'd probably be able to get them for $200-300. At that price you could give them away after....they look good too (especially the Cherry).

Or Usher 520s (never tried but tempted sometimes).

I use anti-cables (I'm be tempted to try some DH Labs Q-10 speaker cables), DH Labs Silver Revelation and BLII cables and Signal Cables. I've never used them, but Blue Jeans Cables gets mentioned often. These companies seem to get mentioned often when it comes to bang-for-buck.

I really don't know how much of a difference expensive ICs make, but I don't care. There's no way I can or would spend too much money on them. The only reason I spend what I do on them is that I don't want them to be the "weak" link...

I figure it's got to be commensurate/cost with the other gear.

Power cords though, to me, seem to make a marked difference. Even plugging your power amp into a wall versus a power strip or whatever, made a difference.

If I had the money I'd buy one of those Running Springs power conditioners.

... one thing I learned at it's a good thing early.. always buy USED. I stopped buying from Ebay (way too expensive and frustrating) and just buy from Audiogon and Craigslist (local is good)...

I also use an Apple Airport Express to stream my music wirelessly from my Macbook. For the price, you can't lose. It's got a DAC in it. Better than just plugging in your ipod/laptop. Very Very convenient for casual listening, internet radio.... and if you think it sucks, you could always use it as router or to print stuff wirelessly.

But seriously, save yourself the time and just buy a record player and a tube integrated...

what kind of music do you like to listen too and how is your listening room laid out?
what kind of budget to you have to work with?