Well... guess I have to jump in the rabbit hole of speaker cables... lol

Knownothing:
thank you.

I am retired and my wife is disabled so I am doing this as easily as I can.
My plan is this:

1. New amp
2. New spk cables
3. Check the preamp ( for some reason there are peeps who think the Mac is harsh) 
4. Look into a DAC or CD player... I would prob need to buy used.
5. Gin and tonics and music...lol

Here's something for perspective 

http://www.roger-russell.com/wire/wire.htm#conditioner

Great info to help with your decisions. 

Some suggestions/advice(not necessarily here) really should be questioned.

Great reading from that link in previous post. 😬

“Along with green magic markers on CDs and audio bricks is another item called the wire conditioner. The claim is that unused wires do not sound the same as wires that have been used for a period of time. The device supposedly simulates what program material will do for the wire. This is called a break-in period. The thinking is that, like a new pair of shoes that are stiff when first put on, repeated use will make them more pliable and therefore more comfortable. 

It would therefore seem that used speaker wire and used audio and video interconnects would be worth more than the new wire and interconnects simply because they have been used already. There could be a big savings in time and expense by doing conditioning on your own or purchasing the device. Unfortunately, this is just another way of making money. It can be considered as another “quack” remedy machine.”

Gman74, plus 1.  Relatively inexpensive but effective power conditioner set up: Shunyata Venom Defender in simple breakerless power strip like Wiremold L10320.  Around $300 all in.  Try this on your source and preamp, not power amp.

Captbeaver, do not scrimp on source.  Can’t fix original sins.  That said, there are a number of good to great DACs that would provide more involvement than older Denon available today new at many price points.  Buy used, especially if you can live with red book to 24/192 resolution in PCM.  Lots for sale on Agon right now in many different flavors/sound signatures.  Maybe a nice used Chord DAC for you?  Use Denon 2900 as a transport, but don’t cut corners on digital cable;-)

I think and believe that knownothing has hit the nail on the head. the source is your first "crown jewel"