"
It sounds like the frequency bands are a little disjointed."
That's your speakers. The Elac's are OK, but you can do a lot better. You can fix that by getting time and phase correct speakers like the Vandersteen Model 1's. They're more coherent than a esl or ribbon type planar speakers. (I've actually put them next to ML's and Magnepans). I know your budget allows for a more expensive speaker like the Model 2's, but they may be too big for your room and amp. The 1's are much easier to drive. Also, Vandersteen gives you contour controls for the mids and highs that you can use in less than ideal rooms and placement. If you upgrade your other components in the future, the Vandersteen's will let you hear the differences in better electronics in ways the Elac's could never do.
That's your speakers. The Elac's are OK, but you can do a lot better. You can fix that by getting time and phase correct speakers like the Vandersteen Model 1's. They're more coherent than a esl or ribbon type planar speakers. (I've actually put them next to ML's and Magnepans). I know your budget allows for a more expensive speaker like the Model 2's, but they may be too big for your room and amp. The 1's are much easier to drive. Also, Vandersteen gives you contour controls for the mids and highs that you can use in less than ideal rooms and placement. If you upgrade your other components in the future, the Vandersteen's will let you hear the differences in better electronics in ways the Elac's could never do.