Advice on Speaker upgrade vs System Component Upgrade

Thanks all! 

@mijostyn & @paradisecom - I think its a great point about the dealer - not sure they would do an in home setup/trial on the Sonus Fabers as they are used/demo, but worth asking for sure. The Wilsons would have to be a purchase and hope through audiogon as i'm not quite ready to pay full retail & get the in home trial.. maybe - we will see - bonus season is coming...

@soix I do have the i2s - its the reason i got the iris - i have a nice Tubulus concentus cable, and i definitely noticed the difference right away. my system is very quiet. 

I have a single Kef KC62 and it's nice and doesn't overpower - but again, i'm not cranking out real high listening levels normally, so i haven't felt the need to manage bass and do treatments... but if i do get the volume up a bit, the treble on the dynaudios gets shrill and the bass gets sloppy for sure - so running into the issues. 

Funny about the JC5 - it sounds good, but tighter - I was really wanting to try out the Pass labs sound and ended up deciding to build the Aleph 60 monoblocks myself for fun, and also i wasn't ready to buy an amp (XA60) for what i'm planning on spending on speakers. If you are interested - check out DIY Audio, and i can give you the name of the guy who sold me the circuit boards and mosfets on etsy - awesome guy Randy who really held my hand - great learning experience, and i got to taste the Pass sound - more holographic and smoother for sure - a little softer, but sounds really nice for what I listen to. I also built the simpler Amp Camp Amp which is even more holographic (2nd order stuff) but its too low power for my Dynaudios and Kefs for sure. Anyway... thanks for the suggestions....

But really i do love my system as is - I've just been wandering through roon  this afternoon, and it really is a good system - it sounds great for my listening room and levels/late night listening and I think that is the answer... if i'm going for that next level its going to have to be in the living room where i'm not fighting the room so much - i can replace the Kef R11's with Sonus Faber / Wilsons.

Interesting you mention the Joseph Audio pulsars - the dealer has some JA RM33SI's used .. but not likely that real next step up but might be fun.

So many possibilities.. i kinda hate the upgraditis but its also the fun part right lol

Oscar Trio - Marten ... low order crossover / bass / build quality.

From Mfg website: 

• Copper foil air core coils
• Silver/Gold capacitors
• Supreme resistors
• Jorma internal cabling 

Bases covered.

$11k msrp

https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2021/02/14/marten-oscar-trio-loudspeaker-review/

My recommendation is to listen to martens or similar.

I'd keep the HS in the office and upgrade the KEFs to the Olympica's.  They are absolutely gorgeous, I might change out my OG Contours with the Sonettas in my home theater just based on looks. 

The HS is a near perfect bookshelf, I don't think either the Sabrina or Olympica will be an upgrade, and as soix mentioned could lead to bass issues in a small room. I heard the Tune Tot and Nova I so it was bookshelf vs bookshelf.  HS was the best to my ears though that Nova was pretty and the Tune Tot was a cool red color.  Not my taste but they looked expensive.  And were.  

If you are going to spend money looking for a meaningful upgrade then the only choice would be speakers. As far as asking which one to buy you will need to rely on your ears over opinions.

You can add all the fancy cables you want. You can upgrade your amplifier/preamp or receiver. Buy a new CD player or streamer or whatever, it will not erase the sound  of your old speakers. Might hear very, very small difference.
 

Nothing compares to a significant upgrade in speakers. 

OP,

Be very careful on this possible move to the living room!

I have said often, I would much rather have a small system in a dedicated room than a bigger one in a common area… especially if it is nearer to where my partner sleeps… or will want to cohabitate.

I have heard drop dead gorgeous systems with spectacular imaging and realism in rooms the size of walk in closets. It takes effort… tubes, careful choices, room treatments. But because the room is smaller you don’t need as much power and hence you can get higher quality lower power stuff (amp and speakers).

I vote for the dedicated closet and the knowledge that you can create a world class system in it for much less money than moving to a communal space.

It also allows for something you can really be proud of for what you achieve by using your mind. Learning the nuances of the acoustics of small spaces and really high quality electronics.