what is the weakest link in my audio chain

You said that the problem with trying other components was that the rest of the dealer's system wouldn't necessarily match yours. If you deal with a decent A/V retailer (not BB and CC) most will allow you to take any specific component home to try in your system in your listening room. They'll usually write it up as a sale on your credit card just as insurance that you'll return the unit in the time specified. Once you develop a relationship, even that restriction usually disappears.

I too had an ageing sytem that needed upgrading and I wasn't sure where the best bang for my buck would be. By trying a couple things, I quickly could hear that, for my system, the biggest improvement came form a substantial upgrade in my souce player. Good luck, but be forwarned, upgrading is infectious.

Rleff - "When I got into audio the store I did business with in St.Paul MN policy was to pick up the piece for audition on saturday and return the unit on monday as they were closed on sunday;I haven't bought new in many years and did not know that this practice of doing business has vanished."

Despite what "Iplaynaked" says, this practice has not totally disapeared. You might have to look around a bit but that type of dealer still exists.

Iplaynaked - You said that you had worked in a number of "high end audio stores" over the years .... Are any of them still in business? If your attitude represents that of the owners that I suspect not. Do you purchase a new vehicle without taking it for a thorough test drive? I hope not. Not trying to pick a bone with you but it's exactly that type of attitude that caused many of the specialist AV stores to close. And just as an example of what can happen when you allow a customer to demo components in their own systems - in the last 12 months I've purchased a $3,000. cd player and a $5,000 integrated amp after trying them and a couple others in my 2 channel system. Probably not "high end" money by your standards but it seemed to please the guy I purchased them from.