Seeking more 3d imaging, deeper/wider soundstage


I'm considering replacing either my amp or my pre. My system is profiled in my system link. Which do you think would improve soundstage/imaging more:
Replace the P3? I'd consider used McCormack, or a passive line stage, but my amp clips at 5v, which is what my DAC puts out when using the XLR outputs, and I'd like to try those someday...not sure a passive is a good fit for my system? Plus I require a remote. That's a deal breaker.
Replace the Rotel RB-1080? I'd consider parasound (a21 is a bit too pricey for me), used McCormack, odyssey, maybe even older krell or classe. I want XLR inputs tho.
Budget is $900-$1200 for either. Music spans the full gamut, excluding hip hop and country. Room is small, 12x12x8. I'm going to throw up some affordable foam acoustic absorption this summer (foam factory). Thnx in advance.
realremo
3 dimensionality is the land of the high priced spread. Surely your room can be treated, your power cords can be improved, but you will get incremental improvements.... Not until you get good (expensive) components will you achieve your goals.
I hope everyone is appreciating what happened here. The original was what could improve soundstage/imaging more. Shortly thereafter were many suggestions for room correction and reposititioning the speakers. To me, this should have been the first things done. My opinion is to avoid spending money and try to fix the problem by trying solutions that may actually center around room and speaker placement. However, I did notice many posts suggesting replacement of equipment. I see that often and find it very curious. Upgrade your equipment first. Why? I do know that eventually one reaches a level of refinement in sound reproduction that can only be exceeded by better equipment. But, that should'nt be the first level necessary to achieve what the original member wanted fixed. how many times have we had a simple problem to fix and someone suggested spending ungodly sums of money to fix it, when a more simple less expensive (or no cost) alternative existed? Some speakers are so directional that small adjustments in position will result in major changes in dimentionality, sound stage and imaging. Leave the speakers where they were and upgrade to much "better" more expensive equipment and guess what? The imaging and sound stage will still be off. And then you'll have a really pissed off member that came out of pocket unnecessarily. Atmasphere's suggetion was spot on. No cost and actually fixed the problem. This level of correspondence went from speaker placement, to new more expensive equipment, including the age old tube vs solid state undying discussion, to insults and finally to phase correction. Wow! I have to tell you I found the many responses very interesting, technically speaking. The insults back and forth were totally unnecessary. But many totally ignored the original problem as described by the OP. I like that there exist people like Atmasphere, Mapman and others, including Bo1972 that actually came up with viable suggestions. Again, the insults I could do without. But arguments are a two way street. One cannot argue by him/her self. Well, they could but it would be really strange. Also, initially, I didn't interprete Bo1972's posts to be insulting at all. When some did interprete them that way and went after him, that is when it got really ugly. I would like to see one thing in analysis of systems and sound. We speak much about dimensionality, imaging, 3d effect, etc. I would like to see a list of recordings that eveyone agrees exhibit those qualities and therefore, when one does not hear those qualities when being played back on their system, we have a reference to determine if it is the recording or the equipment or even speaker placement or phasing. Realremo stated that he/she possessed recordings that demonstrated those qualities. Would you be so kind as to list a few? I would very much like to experiement to see if I can hear those on my system. I'm finding that many of my digital recordings played back on my system lack real dimensionality. It has been a gradual lessening, but I am noticing it. I'm not really happy with my Audio Research PH5 phono stage and therefore, record playback isn't making me smile as it used to. I think an upgrade to a better phono stage is in the works. However, what digital recording can one offer that has good dimensionality and imaging? I think I do need some good reference material to start with.

Thank all, and do enjoy
All my brain tissue and nerve endings tell me that when I am at a live music venue that I don't see and hear the depth of field that sometimes is played back in my home. With all my latest devices and resonance grounding methods I see and hear a giant sound stage in fact sometimes I am inside the shroud of music. I can see the other side and sometimes I hear a layer of depth but I cannot remember hearing depth at any live event unless I was walking thru an access tunnel or in a seat that I wish I wasn't. Tom
Before you go out and spend $$ on replacing equipment, give some consideration to room treatment. I was going to replace my beloved B&W N804s because they were sounding harsh in my new, but small listening room. It was extremely frustrating since they sounded great in my old, larger room. As a last ditch effort, I figured it coukd be the room itself. So, I called GIK Acoustics and sent them pictures of my room. As it turns out, room reflections were the source of the problem. For a little over $1K, I was able to get great sound and not spend a sh*tload of $$ on new equipment. Treating your room is AS important as the components you use. Trust me on this one.
Room treatment is so hard to get right, and most of the time they are really ugly. But, I think I will try the GIK Acoustics suggestion just to hear what they have to say. Good idea.

enjoy