notesaddict
I am happy with the sound but ...
Sounds like audiophilosis. I have it too. My system sounds better now than ever before. Yet I keep looking at tonearms and lately, tube amps. Before that tube preamps. I can give good reasons for wanting to change. My tonearm (OL Illustrious) was suppose to be temporary til I could get better. That was 7 yrs ago. My amp & preamp are opposite of the audiophile standard. Tube amp and SS preamp. Never mind the preamp is a Stereophile class A (CJ PFR)....its old too. My amp is too cheap to be audiophile approved (Bob Latino ST-70). But it replaced a $4k SS amp and put it to shame. I have a feeling that despite the system sounding fantastic now, I'm going to change something. So far all my changes have been for the best. But the odds are against me at this point. Surely I'll make a change at some point which will destroy every bit of the synergy in my system. Even though I know this, I keep looking.
FWIW, I like CJ gear. I'd also consider the Primaluna. Also, Don Sachs makes a tube Preamp which gets rave reviews by its owners. He also makes a KT-88 Tube amp which he claims is better than the Citation 2 amps he rebuilds for Jim McShane. Both will cost you a little over the $5k budget. He may even give you a short audition period. He is very personable and easy to talk too
Also, Bob Latino makes an M 125 Tube mono blocks which get very good reviews and are about $2800 with tubes. Again, great sound and Bob builds a good product and is very good with customer service.
Good luck with whatever direction you go.