Final ditch effort to improve my sound. Pls. help

Please help!

I feel I am not getting the sound I like out my system, so I finally have decided to throw a little bit more money at my source, as a final ditch effort. I sure hope it works. While not nearly as many of the systems I read about here, here is what I have. I'd be interested in what you think I should do to improve the sound. I have about 3000 to spend on either speakers or source or combination of both:

System 1 tube drive (for music):

a) Cary SLI-80 Integrated Tube AMP (I LOVE THIS)
b) 1 pair JM Lab Chorus 706S Bookshelf or 1 pair EPOS ELS3 Bookshelf (I go back and forth between these)

System 2 solid state driven (music on occasion but mostly home theater)

a) Audio Refinement Multi-5, Audio Refinement Pre-5
b) Same speaker set as above

Source for both Systems: Marantz DV8400 Universal
Onix Rocket UFW10 Sub: Its almost in the same class as REL when it comes to music I feel.

The Epos ELS3 are an amazing little speaker. I actually auditioned several higher end B&W, and NHT speakers (1,000+ range), but kept coming back to the Epos. So I'm not sure if I'm ready to part with these just yet.

Here is why I'm thinking I should improve my source before speakers. I borrowed my friends VPI scout turntable and played it through my Cary, and my EPOS - I was floored by the sound. I dint realize how dull my Marantz player was until then. So I decided that I am not going vinyl, because I have several thousand CD's -- so I started searching for a digital front end that would be most vinyl like, and my search ended with these three products. Meitner, DV-50, or 2900/3910 modded. Word on the street says modd'd Denon.

So APL or Exemplar 2900? Well the APL uses Cirrus Dacs, with very nice specs. And also has the advantage of the volume control built in, and balanced outputs, so it would seem that this may be the way to go. But I have not heard either, so this would be a leap of faith somewhat. All I know is that I am hoping the Exemplar 2900 would beat my Marantz. If it does, I think I will finally be able to rest from this relentless pursuit of nice sound.

What do you recommend? Change my source, or change my speakers? Or something entirely different.

Thanks,
Jason