I've need been in your position before. If your like me you probably think to your self, it sounds good but I'm not feeling the magic.
I don't think changing one component is going to make the difference your looking for. What you need to do is start swapping out your gear piece by piece with gear that is a level or two above what you have. I get it, when you don't have the cash it's difficult. But if you look for deals and swap it it slowly piece by piece, it's do-able.
For example I'd lose the amp and preamp and get a Classe, Belle's 150a ref, McCormack, krell, exposure jolida or bryston for your amp or pre. I actually just bought a jolida tube pre for 400 and I love it.
Next unload the marantz, I've personally never found a marantz cdp that I thought was more than Mediocre. Instead if you want to stay with traditional cdp I'd get a rega appollo, exposure, naim or if you can afford it an older wadia. NAD had a pretty decent little cdp a few years ago, I think it was the 542 or perhaps there silver line. The best sounding and cheapest digital source I found was musical Fidelity v90 USB dac on a computer using Jriver software. It was wonderfully dynamic and detailed.
Your turn table could be switched for a higher grade rega, but I'm not really up to speed in LP so others would give better advice on your LP player.
Your cables I would change to at minimum audioquest Columbia or similar grade Tara labs or harmonic tech, for your interconnects. and For speaker cables I'd look at Dh labs for a cost effective good cable.
As far as your Speakers go, I'm not familiar with those, but you may get the magic out of them after you change your electronics. If not then you need to audition a few until your zero in on what you like in a speaker. If it were me I'd be looking at a pair of thiels, sonus Faber, Dali, something a long those lines.
Let your ears be the true judge of what you like. Obviously your not hearing the magic as of now, so something's gotta change.
As far as what order, typically people say start with the front end, but I'd start with what you can get the best deal on first. If there's a sweet Classe or Belle's 150a for a great price, I'd get it, I wouldn't wait around for the source to come up. Buy the stuff as it comes available.
In closing I really think you need to break out of the midfi stuff before you'll get the twinkle your looking for. As you start switching stuff out you'll start seeing the improvements.
Best of luck
I don't think changing one component is going to make the difference your looking for. What you need to do is start swapping out your gear piece by piece with gear that is a level or two above what you have. I get it, when you don't have the cash it's difficult. But if you look for deals and swap it it slowly piece by piece, it's do-able.
For example I'd lose the amp and preamp and get a Classe, Belle's 150a ref, McCormack, krell, exposure jolida or bryston for your amp or pre. I actually just bought a jolida tube pre for 400 and I love it.
Next unload the marantz, I've personally never found a marantz cdp that I thought was more than Mediocre. Instead if you want to stay with traditional cdp I'd get a rega appollo, exposure, naim or if you can afford it an older wadia. NAD had a pretty decent little cdp a few years ago, I think it was the 542 or perhaps there silver line. The best sounding and cheapest digital source I found was musical Fidelity v90 USB dac on a computer using Jriver software. It was wonderfully dynamic and detailed.
Your turn table could be switched for a higher grade rega, but I'm not really up to speed in LP so others would give better advice on your LP player.
Your cables I would change to at minimum audioquest Columbia or similar grade Tara labs or harmonic tech, for your interconnects. and For speaker cables I'd look at Dh labs for a cost effective good cable.
As far as your Speakers go, I'm not familiar with those, but you may get the magic out of them after you change your electronics. If not then you need to audition a few until your zero in on what you like in a speaker. If it were me I'd be looking at a pair of thiels, sonus Faber, Dali, something a long those lines.
Let your ears be the true judge of what you like. Obviously your not hearing the magic as of now, so something's gotta change.
As far as what order, typically people say start with the front end, but I'd start with what you can get the best deal on first. If there's a sweet Classe or Belle's 150a for a great price, I'd get it, I wouldn't wait around for the source to come up. Buy the stuff as it comes available.
In closing I really think you need to break out of the midfi stuff before you'll get the twinkle your looking for. As you start switching stuff out you'll start seeing the improvements.
Best of luck