What to add to my system for best sound?

My advise would be to buy some better amplification and then see how things sound w/your spks and CDP. Cables are very important as well. Kimber Kable 4VS spk. wire is an excellent choice on a budget. I also like Straightwire's budget "Musicality and Chorus" interconnects. If the used ($400)Kora "Explorer SI-90" int. amp is still available here, I would highly recommend you consider purchasing. Also, do not disregard older equipment. Recently bought a mid-80's Sony TA-AX-6 int. amp and I'm extremely impressed by its sound. You do not have to spend a fortune to get great sound. My basement system consists of older Sony/NEC components which I bought used for peanuts. Sounds absolutely great in the room w/JM Lab Chorus 705 on custom made 28" oak stands. The key is finding the right equipment for the particular room. Bill

Tube gear is good for simple music like vocal. No good in pop music. Since your Onkyo receiver shall have DSP filter (different music format like, Drama, Music Hall, Theatre, etc), I suggest you should work on a SACD player/Universal Player/redbook CD player/DAC, etc

Source is very important in a stereo system. Bad source wont have good sound even applying decent amplifier.

My advice is always the same.What have you done with the room.The room is the biggest variable.Start to read about room acoustic treatments.Better if its a dedicated room.My room looks like a room treatment sales showroom.Tubetraps,acoustic panel absorbers,RPG skyline diffusers.If you are handy you could make all of them.Before you give up on your gear do a little experimenting with this stuff.Not that new amps and subs and cd players are out of the question,its that you need to ,"Tune the room".Good luck and pick up a copy of stereophile guide to hometheater and start to read Russ Hershelmann's articles.It may seem over whelming at first but soon you will start to hear the same buzz words and it will all come together.KG

I have to take exception to Lafish's statement on the alleged limitations of tubed amplifiers: "...good for simple music like vocal. No good for pop music." C'mon, now - this is ridiculous as a blanket assertion, and easily disproved if you drop by my house sometime.

Julie, without recommending tubes over SS or vice-versa, I would heartily endorse Kotta's sentiment that you don't yet know what your speakers are capable of, considering what you're driving them with now. No, I am not familiar with your Axioms, but they are apparently a pretty well regarded speaker in their catagory, and from your description of the rest of your system I would hazard a guess that they are the strongest link in the chain you've got at present.

I think your plan to check out a good integrated amp would make sense on your stated budget. If you want recommendations that are meaningful, you should probably tell us about your sonic and listening preferences, including your tastes in both music and playback volume, as well as the size of your listening room.

Pick up copies of The Complete Guide to High-End Audio by Robert Harley and/or Good Sound by Laura Dearborn. They'll tell you most everything you'd want to know about the subject. Once you know more, you'll be able to become a smarter buyer and reach your goals much quicker.
Eddie