Looking for more transparency.

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I neglected to mention that I already have an
Isotek Orion power conditioner with Isotek Elite power cord.
Sounds like a new preamp may be the way to go, but since I just spent about $1500 upgrading the CJ with Teflon caps i would hate to take a loss and replace it. 

OTOH, a lot of my equipment is fairly new (a few months old,) including the speakers, caps and IC’s.
Hopefully, if I give it some more time it will all come together.

Chayro,

Based on your suggestion, I’ve ordered new speaker cables.
 It’s worth a try.

WHY NOT?!?!

 I stuck with Morrow: SP5 speaker cables.

(They’re returnable within 60 days.)

Thanks for the tip.  I called Morrowand had them add it.

I’ve heard these speakers in another setting and they were quite transparent.

I believe Morrow cables ARE solid core.

I’ve heard good things about Mapleshade.  May give them a try if Morrows don’t work out.

Thanks anotherbob.  I’m still trying to realize their full potential.

No matter what anyone says, cables ARE latter day tone controls.

Elizabeth,

All of a sudden, things are sounding much better lately!
Maybe things are breaking in or maybe my attitude has changed, or a combination of both.
  I realized something very interesting, that others may be appreciative of.  When I first play something in a day, if it doesn’t sound good, my feelings are colored by that for the rest of the day and beyond.  Just browsing through my very old preamp manual, I noticed it said the unit takes about a half hour to warm up and work properly. Now, of course, I have known about warmup of equipment forever.
But, never realized how important first impressions have an effect on the psyche.
 In other words, I was letting my mind get spooked by the first sounds I was hearing, and that ruined my mindset for a long time. I don’t know if we realize how much of a part the mind plays (like sex) in the enjoyment of the experience.
So..... Now I don’t really start listening until my preamp is hot and
Voila! I’m a happy camper.

My new Morrow speaker cables did the trick.
Night and day difference from my very old Cardas cables.
smoother and much more transparent!