System assessment...

In that you have good gear, rather than muck with changing the gear, consider applying DSP to tune things to sound the way you want. For example, do a trial Roon subscription and play with the DSP there free during trial and see what happens.

Frankly in this day and age once one has good gear that is well matched and set up well, changing hardware to get a certain sound is often neither cost effective or efficient.

My advice is understand how modern technology solves problems in ways not possible until more recently. DSP is the ultimate sound shaper. You just have to figure out how to apply it properly. I’d be glad to help if by chance you are located in central MD area.

Thanks mapman,

I'm in central Wisconsin with few resources near me. I've been getting close to adding a music server to my system. Perhaps I should make the leap into modern technology with DSP.

A familiar audio reference is a good thing. Go to a piano store - or a rehearsal hall. While someone is playing a grand piano, listen at different distances, 5-50 feet. Then listen to a recent grand piano recording on your system. Determine if the SQ in the ballpark. Tweak from there.

Good point, after all is said and done, we should find ourselves in that recital hall...

I am very much on the same page about the warmth. The first question is if you are happy with your speakers? The second is the amp. For me, those two determine the liquidity and the warmth. Of course the phono stage and source matter too, but I would start with the first two. I think it’s better to start with a bright and revealing system and scale towards the warm so that you know where to stop. I found tube preamp-ss amp the best combination, not too muddy, not too bright.

But it sounds like you have terrific components, I have no experience in that price range.