His name is Kevin Deal and he is a respected audio dealer and the man behind Prima Luna tube amplifiers. I have been dealing with him for 16 years. He stands behind his products and knows his stuff. He is a character though.
So, you own a $300 amp that you have paired with $250 speakers and you are ready for a change. Once you upgrade to a higher level amp, you will soon see the need for upgrading your speakers. This is what you heard at your buddy's place.
I also like good deals. It is why I suggested the Musical Fidelity amp ... a quality $1000 amp being discounted to $600.
Lots of ways to look at this.
Think of it as a bike. You only get a certain level of Shimano components on an entry level ride. If you want the enhanced performance of better components ... shifting under pressure, smoother braking ... then you have to work your way up Shimano's component line.
You can also think of your CA amp as the frame and your speakers as the components. You will most likely recognize immediate improvement if you upgrade the speakers, because after all that is what you hear.
So, maybe it is time to go listen to some speakers before you spend your hard earned cash. But do spend the time and listen, no quick on-line purchasing until you can identify what works for you in a speaker. It will be time well spent.
Rich
Still rocking a Cannondale Bad Boy 1 at 61 years old after two replaced knees and 13 fused vertebrae.