Help with System Musicality

I'd suggest as a first step replacing the SS monoblocks with tube amps like the Air Tights. Your "favorite system" sounds to me as if it would outscore the current one in many ways. So why not try to duplicate it to the extent possible? Good luck.

I don't know why you got rid of you original setup, probably because you were going away to serve for a long while but, unless you were to completely replace each and every piece with the original equipment, which is probably financially not realistic, you are going to have to go one piece at a time.

This is the dilemma.

I would also say that replacing one piece won't get you "there" either. You replace one piece and it gets better, but not "there". So, you upgrade another and it gets closer.

I would say that you should identify exactly what is wrong with the sound and address that. "it isn't music" isn't quite the description to do that. Is the music flat without space, dimension, no sound stage? Instruments don't sound like real instruments? be careful here because many times its the actual recording and not the playback equipment.

Start with your analog side of the system first. More open? but not quite there? I'm not familiar with your pre-amp or amp. But, have you heard your speakers on a better setup? can you borrow a better pre-amp and test it out with your amp and speakers? same is true for the amp and the speakers.

This is hard. I would establish a price point for upgrading equipment (keep within your budget and sound quality policy) take the best pre-amp you can afford home and insert it and listen intently to the music. does it address the issue? If so, you are on the right track. Then do the same with the amp if the pre-amp didn't do it all.

You don't need to buy anything yet. This is to listen in your home to "better" equipment until you discover what is wrong and what type of equipment will make the improvements you like within the budget.

What I would not do is take the advice of anyone for equipment that you have not heard yourself either in your home (best) or in the store and purchase that equipment.

If stores won't let you take expensive equipment home for a few days demo (which I still find stupid and a bad business practice), then you must take many trips to stores for long listening sessions.

But take your time, listen to a possible replacement piece of equipment in your home on your system if possible before purchasing.

enjoy

At first glance it would seem that you are missing the EL34 tube amp and the PAD cables, both known for their rich, vibrant midrange. Perhaps you should look for another tube amp and some PAD cables.

I am not familiar with your speakers though, do they have ribbon tweeters? Perhaps this may be causing problems too.