Dawgfish. I can't recommend specific components, but I would offer my opinions on upgrades generally.
First, I like the first paragraph of Goinbroke's post. I think you are well into diminishing returns. Therefore, while you consider what you will spend a lot of money on, and while you save up to do so, you might get noticeable improvements by doing some of the small things Goinbroke suggests. Your daughters may be almost through school, but the next thing you know they'll bring some guy home wanting to get married. then you're out another ten grand paying for a wedding.
Second, I'm a believer in the "garbage in, garbage out" school of thought. In other words, I think that you're upgrading backwards. I think your speakers are wonderful. But they can only reproduce what you feed them. Give them better quality sources and you may be surprised at how much better your speakers sound. I would upgrade any of your sources first before the amps, particularly the turntable. I would also put a new widescreen HDTV high on the list, probably first.
The ultimate upgrade question is this. "What would give me the greatest enjoyment for my money?" If I had your system, I think my answer would be "A new TV".
Finally, your post is titled "Tips for Gradual Upgrade". To me, this is a problem. "Gradual" upgrades are very expensive. It's cheaper in the long run to save up and make a "big" upgrade in a component, rather than a series of "little" upgrades.
So my opinion is: TV, turntable/cartridge, universal disc player, then amps. And while you're saving the money, do some of the things Goinbroke suggests.
My two cents worth.
First, I like the first paragraph of Goinbroke's post. I think you are well into diminishing returns. Therefore, while you consider what you will spend a lot of money on, and while you save up to do so, you might get noticeable improvements by doing some of the small things Goinbroke suggests. Your daughters may be almost through school, but the next thing you know they'll bring some guy home wanting to get married. then you're out another ten grand paying for a wedding.
Second, I'm a believer in the "garbage in, garbage out" school of thought. In other words, I think that you're upgrading backwards. I think your speakers are wonderful. But they can only reproduce what you feed them. Give them better quality sources and you may be surprised at how much better your speakers sound. I would upgrade any of your sources first before the amps, particularly the turntable. I would also put a new widescreen HDTV high on the list, probably first.
The ultimate upgrade question is this. "What would give me the greatest enjoyment for my money?" If I had your system, I think my answer would be "A new TV".
Finally, your post is titled "Tips for Gradual Upgrade". To me, this is a problem. "Gradual" upgrades are very expensive. It's cheaper in the long run to save up and make a "big" upgrade in a component, rather than a series of "little" upgrades.
So my opinion is: TV, turntable/cartridge, universal disc player, then amps. And while you're saving the money, do some of the things Goinbroke suggests.
My two cents worth.