You're right, the cd player is a big problem. I would recommend attacking that first, then worry about the speakers. Try a Rega Planet 2000 or Jupiter 2000, they are definitely on the warm-not shrilly side. Keep the speakers until you have optimized the rest of the system; they are relatively neutral and will give you a good indication of where you are going. If you really want warm speakers, the first choice is Vandersteen, just be warned that warm gets annoying eventually as well (and also masks the other changes you are making in the system).
