upgrade or all new?


Maybe I'm out of my "wallet league" here, but was hoping for advice on upgrade possibilities. I like good separation in instruments and voice, not bright, but not a muddy low-end either; 50 to 60w max (condo living), two channels. I'm learning more and more about classical, prefer strings over brass and piano. Love jazz vocals like sarah vaughan, ella, carmen mcrae etc. At 50 yrs old I can't seem to enjoy Rock music anymore, it's all too similar, and trendy, although I do like electronica like crystal method, ladytron, etc.
Here's what I have so far:
Office
NAD 3150
Yamaha yp211
AR 25s
monster cable

Living Room
Marantz 2230
Dual 1226
H/K FL 8350 CD 5disc changer(too bright)
Athena BS-1 on stands
monster cable
Please offer advise on anything here, even cartridges that may make for better sound (AT 70Lcarts mm), connects, etc.
Budget maybe $500 to 1000.

Hope I wasn't too long.
Don in Tennessee
donntn

Showing 1 response by jb8312

You have really opened up the door to any and all possibilities, huh...

To get the most help out of this place, try to figure out what it is you really want or need...then focus on getting it..

Is your system too bright? warm? bass heavy? Boonmy?

What do you like about it? What do you not like about it?

If you can pin-point a little better for us what information you really want or need we can be more helpful....

But, considering the options you offered, I would start all over..find a pair of speakers you love and can afford, then build the rest of your system around them over the next XX years. Or, find the amp you love and can afford, and do the same...or the CDP....

But, just find one piece you absolutely beleive in and go from there...That is what I would do if I had to start all over. Doing it my way over the last 20 years was fun, but much too expensive.

John