Where to go from here...

Uh, my wife has many great qualities but cooking isn't on the list.  And I don't know your wife, but pissing my wife off and giving her a power saw doesn't seem wise.  I'd definitely need new speakers then, and my "fixed porch" would have 14" holes where the woofers used to be. 

Thanks for the responses.  French_fries I made some notes, you mentioned some gear I had not heard of before.  I did some googling and will continue to follow up.  I'm planning on attending Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October (my first ever event like this) and hope to go in with some good questions and things to look for.

Inna I'd have thought I gave too much information, not inadequate information.  My budget is flexible in the league I'm in, let's say I could spend $12-15K on speakers, new or used.  I could also budget $2-4K for a better digital source.  My question is really about what would fit with my overall system and listening habits.  I'm not going to replace the entire system, and I doubt I'll ever have over $30-40K in it (I bought it all used).  Wilson Audio is just down the road from me, I've heard their gear but I don't know that even if I could lay my hands on a pair of their $150K speakers that my system would do them justice.  I also doubt that given my listening habits that their gear would be right for me regardless of price, but I've only listened to it in environments where cranking up Boston would not exactly fly. 

French_fries brings up an issue that is at the heart of my question, my music choices.  I completely agree that the quality of source material in three chord rock is not the same quality as in other genres, and given that rock is most of what I listen to I don't want a system that isn't well suited.  I don't want a Porsche to get the kids from soccer, so to speak.  Nothing against 8W amps and big horns, I've heard some that sound great.  But not when playing "Gone Away" by The Offspring. :)  I read about these $100K+ systems that sound amazing, but I wonder if they are being built for different music.  I wasn't being flippant when I asked if I am done, I really wonder if my source material becomes my weakest link at some point.  I can't fix that.

I can arrange to hear the  Magniplanars  and B&W locally through friends of friends.  I'll go do that.  Thanks again for the direction.

--
dpgaloot

First of all thanks for all the input here!  This is exactly what I was hoping to get!

Michaela, I agree completely on not rushing and am looking forward to the show in Denver.  I took Stereo Review as a kid in the 70s and 80s, and was proud of my system back then (big JVC receiver, Cerwin Vega speakers, you get the idea).  I always coveted the McIntosh/JBL combo from the Dead's "wall of sound", but it was out of my league back then.  Not surprising that is what I ended up with now, but I really didn't and don't know much about high end gear.  I'm anxious to hear such a variety of equipment all in once place.  In the end, I'm happy with what I listen to today so being patient isn't hard.

Bondmanp, your question about what I want to improve is excellent.  Let me take a shot at answering it.  First thing, I know my digital source needs work.  I regularly do a demo where I queue up an mp3, CD, and LP of the same song and then switch between them on my preamp (it allows me to adjust level per source so I can compensate for differing loudness).  The mp3 is terrible, and the LP almost always wins.  However, I don't think putting my Sonos DAC up against my VPI/Ortofon is a fair fight.  The Sonos just isn't as musical, even with a good recording.  With a bad one it can be harsh.  I'm considering an Oppo 105 right now, but want to do more homework here before I jump.  Perhaps just a DAC and keeping the Sonos (I really like the user interface).  So digital source is first.

Speakers are more subjective.  The first "nice" speakers I chased down were a pair of Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2tl's.  Some here may scoff at them, but those who remember ads from the 80s with Matthew Polk in his white lab coat standing next to them will understand why the latent teenager in me had to have them.  I still love the soundstage they have.  I swear that when I listen to them I can hear sounds coming from behind me, especially with the right recording.  Whatever you think of SDA trickery, to me it works.  I run the JBLs because of the improved clarity they have over the Polks.  When I play something like "More Than Life" by Whitley the JBLs clearly win.  But if I could have the clarity of the JBLs and soundstage of the Polks I'd be even happier.  I've even considered modifying/modernizing the Polks or JBLs, and that is still an option I may consider.  I'd be curious what this forum thought of comparing modified vintage to newer generation speakers.

It's also interesting to compare my headphones to my speakers.  There is a clarity and realism with the Audeze headphones that the JBLs are lacking.  I can hear more detail and more "openness".  The headphones lack the in-your-face presence and punch of the speakers, especially at volume, but I'd love to get more of that detail and openness in the speakers.

I just got a copy of "Get Better Sound" by Jim Smith and I'm anxious to dig into that.  After french_fries comment, I spent about 3-4 hours this weekend listening to different types of music than my usual.  I started with Joni Mitchell and ended up with Loreena McKennitt.  Surprising to me at least how much I enjoyed music I wouldn't normally "like" when it was played on a good system.

Thanks again...

--
dpgaloot