Meech, Before you sell the farm-Try a PS Audioultimate outlet. 30 days money back.If you decide to start over,here are some ideas that may help.1.select speakers2.PS Audio P300 power plant (most profound change in sound quality)-used approx.600.003.PS Audio UO-use upstream of the P300 to isolate the digital source.4.power cord for amp.These are some of things that have worked for building the best system I could afford piece by piece. Tubes are great, just like children-as long as you do not mind the care & feeding required.$$$$$$$$$
Who's to blame for the Grain??
I have a very very entry level system that I upgrading piece by piece. What I've noticed is that when I listen to music with vocals, there's a grainy texture to everyones voice. I don't hear that smoothness that I've heard from systems out the hi-end shops. I was curious whether there was a specific part of the chain that can cure the GRAIN. Is it interconnects, pre-amp, power amp, speaker cables or source. I am not using a power cord or a power conditioner,,,,,,,,,,,could this be the cause?