I will agree with most here, room is the key. Speaker positioning with enough "breathing" room is a must.Once you've decided where the system is going to be, I would advise to look over the power supplied to your system. Dedicated lines maybe ? This is a cheap upgrade, that will last forever no matter what gear you will plug into it.
And then, or now, get yourself a proven superior recording CD, of something you know well or enjoy very much. I'm not talking the regular remastering of an old popular album regularly sold at 9.99 $. Don't be cheap on that one. If it costs you 40 $, just get it !Surprises are available here. And remember that recording might not be available at your regular music store. Compare with what you are used to. It should, at least, show you if your system can give you more. After room treatment and power line improvement, if you don't get better performance from your actual gear, or don't hear any difference, then start looking for better units. But only then !
If your wife shows you enough mercy to install the system in the living room, remember you will need to distance your speakers from the wall to get the best out of them, unless they were specifically designed to be at the wall.That should test your wife's patience further more. Show her pictures of set ups here on Audiogon. Don't aggravate her by purchasing expensive equipment that don't improve anything ! At least have her shop with you, if she loves music of course! Otherwise, refrain from this last advice. A divorce is much more expensive than an audio system.
And then, or now, get yourself a proven superior recording CD, of something you know well or enjoy very much. I'm not talking the regular remastering of an old popular album regularly sold at 9.99 $. Don't be cheap on that one. If it costs you 40 $, just get it !Surprises are available here. And remember that recording might not be available at your regular music store. Compare with what you are used to. It should, at least, show you if your system can give you more. After room treatment and power line improvement, if you don't get better performance from your actual gear, or don't hear any difference, then start looking for better units. But only then !
If your wife shows you enough mercy to install the system in the living room, remember you will need to distance your speakers from the wall to get the best out of them, unless they were specifically designed to be at the wall.That should test your wife's patience further more. Show her pictures of set ups here on Audiogon. Don't aggravate her by purchasing expensive equipment that don't improve anything ! At least have her shop with you, if she loves music of course! Otherwise, refrain from this last advice. A divorce is much more expensive than an audio system.