Buget system idea?

I urge you to reconsider selling the 2.7's, at least until after you try to make them work for you. You don't give much detail about what you don't like about the sound of your current system, or what you want to find in a new system. I think you can upgrade around the Maggies and get a system that will sound much different(better), especially if you can spend $1000-$2000 around them. Earlier this year, I thought about selling my maggie 1.6's because my system produced pretty severe listener fatigue. I decided to try to a few things before selling, and I am very glad I did. I put about $1000 into various upgrades, and it has made all the difference. I'm still contemplating some upgrades, but my Maggies aren't going anywhere. This is what I did, in chronological order:
1. Room treatments (Auralex foam in corners behind speakers glued to foam insulation panels. I spent $100 and got a $1000 improvement. Best money I ever spent!
2. Sold Adcom GFA- 5500 and bought a McCormack DNA 0.5 and PS Audio Statement power cord. This cost about $500 net. Again, a major improvement. The 100 wpc McCormack with the statement power cord is a huge improvment over the 200 wpc adcom. Much better and tighter bass, much smoother treble.
3. Signal silver speaker cables (biwire) replaced AQ-4's. Again, much improved base, and significant reduction in grain. This ran about $270.
4. Replaced Kimber PJM with Signal Silver Resolution between Denon DCD 1650 cdp and McCormack TLC-1. This cost about $130, and took the last bit of grain out of my system. They need a lot of burn in time!
Seems to me like your Maggies might suprise you with a better supporting cast.

Here you go. This is the best system for the money I have heard. Dont think you can do any BETTER.

Ack dack (Version 1) $400 here on the Gon new.

Good used transport like Theta Basic or Universal II ($350 used)

Cardas Lightning 15 digital cable ($130 used)

Cayin TA30 tubed int amp ($600 used on Agon)

Paul Speltz anticable speaker wire - $10 foot new

Good IC's from DH Labs or Z Squared for less than $100 each

Green Mountain Audio Europa speakers used for $650 on Agon

$2200

One more.

Cain & Cain Abby speakers ($1100 used)

ASL Tulip 2a3 SET amp ($750 used)

Ack dack or Scott Nixon DAC

Used transport like Theta I mentioned above or Parasound belt drive or Theta Pearl

Paul Speltz anticable

Perhaps mpre "musical" than the above system on jazz,accoustic, female voices.

Well one more, since you already have suggestion for the Cain Abby's: if you like more power and dynamic the Sophia Electric EL34 tube amp sounded great with the Abby's when I listened to them at Sounds Real Audio in Denver. Certainly you have many amp options open, if you go with more sensitive speakers (ASL Tulip, Bottlehead S.E.X, etc.).

Good luck,

Rene

Mab:

I have listed a system of new components, as I am extremely hesitant to purchase any components used. With that said, I have owned the components below for a while and they sound the best of any system that I have owned in the past 35 years. What's even more interesting, is that this is my secondary system and I have enjoyed it so much that I have sold my $3000 solid state Musical Fidelity A300 CR power amp to buy another Prima Luna for my main system. Rather than keep on ranting, please see the review of the Prima Luna that I wrote here in the Audiogon Review Section.

The system that I recommend is as follows:

Prima Luna Prologue 2 tube integrated amp($1345 list)
Omega Super 3 Loudspeakers ($540 list)
Music Hall MMF CD25 CD Player ($540 list)
total: $ 2425

Regards, Rich