Thanks gentlemen!
akg_ca I'm actually looking at a used Sugden Masterclass IA-4 on another site.
but also used Pass int-25 or int-60.
hdprentice great list for researching options, although features are not as much of a concern as I don't stream.
I've thought about trying tubes but many years ago I had a terrible experience at a dealer demo'ing B&W805s (Silver Anniversary Edition if memory serves) with Cary mono-blocks. What I recall was feeling that I didn't deserve to be punished like that! In fact, that demo convinced me to purchase the JAs unheard rather than the B&Ws which actually sounded quite nice at another dealer driven by Classe separates (circa mid 2000s equipment).
But I agree that musicality and nuance is what I'm looking for, and that I already have that to a degree. But because I have no basis for comparison I don't know if my system has already gotten me most of the way there without spending uber-bucks.
That said I have looked at the Triode Corp TRV-A300 and the Fezz Audio Ceti because I'm curious about the famous 300b experience. Unfortunately not only these but most others I can't audition due to the lack of dealers near me.
soix I lust for the the new JA Perspectives even though I've never heard them, but even used they are beyond my reach. Because of lack of experience with other products/systems, I don't know what I'm missing as far as 'improvements and sound characteristics'. I suppose maybe just 'better' or more of the sound that I already have is what I'm looking for.