The Elite is rather smooth and rich for a Japanese receiver and is probably the best match you could have found at its price. Elite's are designed by Meridian. If the Elite bi-passes all A/D and D/A conversion in "Direct" mode then for the dollar you can make a big difference with a good sounding CD player. (Assuming you listen mostly to CD's) Tuner will never sound good and it does take a good pre-amp to make a turntable sing. If the Elite still converts everything to digital EVEN in the "Direct" mode then a better CD player won't make a bit of difference. A CD player that would be a great match would be an Arcam. There are others that are good like Rotel but I know Arcam would sound nice with your system.
If the Elite's Bi-pass isn't a true Bi-pass the separates will make a huge difference as long as you pay attention to matching.
Your speakers can still show big differences in equipment way above $3000 but if that is where you need to be you can go in stages because the Elite has pre-outs so the Elite can be your pre-amp for starters.
If you do that, I would look at a Parasound or Rotel amp for starters and I am sure there are a few more out there that are reel good. You don't want an amp that is a little steely sounding like an Aragon, NAD, or a newer B&K. (old ones were better)
This will let you save up for what I think is the best SS pre-amp out there, a Classe. I say that because it is very unusual in high end for a product to be 7 times better at only twice the price. A Classe SS pre-amp (even the older SSP-25) will lunch anything I have heard except for a higher end Classe. (The Parasound is rather good though and cheaper and so is the Arcam.)
If the Elite's Bi-pass isn't a true Bi-pass the separates will make a huge difference as long as you pay attention to matching.
Your speakers can still show big differences in equipment way above $3000 but if that is where you need to be you can go in stages because the Elite has pre-outs so the Elite can be your pre-amp for starters.
If you do that, I would look at a Parasound or Rotel amp for starters and I am sure there are a few more out there that are reel good. You don't want an amp that is a little steely sounding like an Aragon, NAD, or a newer B&K. (old ones were better)
This will let you save up for what I think is the best SS pre-amp out there, a Classe. I say that because it is very unusual in high end for a product to be 7 times better at only twice the price. A Classe SS pre-amp (even the older SSP-25) will lunch anything I have heard except for a higher end Classe. (The Parasound is rather good though and cheaper and so is the Arcam.)