What do you do when you live hours from nowhere

You do just what you are doing right now, start a thread with question. If you have been in the forums for awhile you will find that most Audiophiles on Audiogon are happy to assist and answer questions.

Depending on your music preferences - for instance if you're into heavy metal - you could listen at insane loud volume levels (100+ db) without being a bother to neighbors.

+1 Phd.  This forum is a great place to discuss and discover audio.

mesch, indeed it is!

In OPs case the Internet and sites like this are the solution.

There are many well intending members here that will give straight unbiased answers to specific questions.   Figure out who you trust and consider what they say.  Ask specific questions and once you get to a point where things appear to make sense perhaps give something new a try.

I recommend focusing on tweaking and optimizing whatever you have this way first before changing a thing.    Many have gear capable of really good results already but perhaps have not been able to get things set up optimally to-date.

Once you know what what you have can do, then you are in a good position to make changes as needed.

Only you can hear your system and determine whether it floats your boat or not.  In the end that's all that matters.   There is no other way. 

If interested try to attend live concerts and performances and use that info to help learn what things really sound like in different venues, amplified versus acoustic, listening from different locations/seats, etc., if that matters to you.   It may not to many and that is fine.  Only you know what matters to you.   Don't let extremist audiophiles take you somewhere that perhaps you are not interested in being.