Upgrade to my system - Speakers maybe

@mijostyn  I hate the look of the Klipsch.  Not of interest.

@mwh777 Good suggestion.  I have always found the bass on the Elys2 to be a bit loose compare to digital.  

@dekay Love this suggestion along with that of the cartridge.  Modest prices and likely to deliver big returns

@tgrisham I definitely am thinking about smallish floorstanders.  Fair point about recommendations.  Demo's are tough now and I can return something if I don't like it.  

@mozartfan Kits?  That sounds like assembly is required.  Not my thing.  

Decision made.  Visited Verdant yesterday in Jersey City.  Not ideal as demos are in his apartment and have to be in the morning.  I brought my Rega and listened to several Verdant products, Scansonics and he had a pair of Revel M105s for comparison.  

Easy.  Hands down, Nightshade 1.  Once I heard them, took about 10 minutes to decide.  Soundstage is bigger.  They give more detail and the sound was fuller than with the Revels.   

Picked up a pair of demos for $6K he had from a review.  They are the same size as my M106s so I am using my Revel stands.  Only thing is I need to get a rubber pad or something to hold them in place.  They are a lot lighter than the Revels and I worry they will slip off the stands from the vibrations.  Something with a little grip. 

Spent last night listening to them and I think they sound better in my room than during the demo.  

Thanks for everyone's advice.  Am still going to get a better cartridge and 2nd sub.    

@steve59 Thanks.  That makes sense now.  It's already starting though.  I have the speakers for a few days and I am wondering what I am missing because of my amp.   Same thing happened years ago when I stepped up from an old pair of Infinitys to the Revels.  Had old Yamaha gear and moved to the Rega and was super happy with that change.  

Suppose I ought to post over in amps and preamps then to find the right amp.  

Why do hi-fi companies avoid listing prices anywhere consumers can find them?  This is just stupid.  Half these products are impossible to find pricing unless a US review exists.  Price is a screener.  I don't want to waste my time with products that are too expensive or too cheap.  

@rocray - I have never heard Totem products.  Look great and a ton of options.  HiFi+ review of Element Fire V2 is really cool.  These guys are impossible to find pricing on though.  Really hard to shop them.  

@verdantaudio - I am interested in Raidho.  Great reviews.  The Nightshade looks interesting but is too expensive. Spendor is fascinating.  Hate the look of the Focals and my wife would never let me get the B&Ws.  It may be my room but she will say the "microphone on top looks stupid" for the next 5-10 years.  

@twoleftears - yep.  they do.  And I could find pricing.  Thanks

@dekay - I will look into it.  I have a Panamax Voltage Regulator but a second sub is an interesting idea.  

@audiokinesis If it is the speakers that I am seeing at James Romeyn site, they are different in terms of styling.  Which ones are you recommending?  

@yogiboy I like the look of the Spendor D7.2s.  They are an option but a bit pricey for my taste.  If these other options don't work out, I will try and hunt them down.  

@ebm  Disinclined to buy a speaker used that I can't return when my integrated is clearly incapable of driving it.  Additionally it is for local pickup in MN when I live just outside of NYC.  Pass.  

@steve59 Get your point about amplification.  Not sure what you mean about damage.

At this point I am interested in a few products.  Verdant has a pair of demos of their Nightshade.  It is similar in size to my Revels and I ought to be able to use my existing stands and it looks like they are extremely easy to drive.  Also looking at the Raidho X1s.  The review at The Absolute Sound suggest they are brilliant but am a little worried about my Rega paired with them.  Same dealer so that is easy and they are local to me in NYC metro so won't even have to pay return shipping, just gas and tolls.  

Going to try and find a Vienna Acoustics dealer to listen to as they look really nice.  

Beyond that, I think the Elys2 will go and maybe I will upgrade to an Exact2 and find a second HRS.  Nice thing is that if I don't like the sub, I can probably return it.  

@steve59 Since it was local pickup I didn't even look at the images.  That is a big scratch. 

@ebm I will pass on the 19 hour one way drive for a pair of speakers with a huge scratch in them. 

@audiokinesis I am not in love with the look of them.  I am intrigued by any best in show and I like the sensitivity.  Not ruling out but will explore other options first

@rocray  Thanks!  Fire V2 looks like an option. 

I am heading over to Verdant Audio for a demo tomorrow to listen to a few speakers.  Will report back.  

@mesch Thank you!  Had some from hanging crap for my kids birthday.  Works perfectly

@steve59 The guy from Verdant was pitching AVM as amplification.  I am opposed to tubes and want SS but don’t know this brand.  Do you have any thoughts on AVM vs Hegel?  Wouldn’t do it till next year but it is always nice to have a plan.  

@audiokinesis styling does matter and this is a better fit for me.  Glad I learned about your speakers though.  Cool designs.  Thank you.