Gentlepersons
Thank you all for your responses. The diversity of viewpoint, science and opinion has been interesting, facinating and entertaining. Some of you sent me to the dictionary; others to links with your recommendations. Some introduced entirely different avenues to attack the issue of improved sound. I wanted to respond to each as they came in and have individual dialogue, but I see now that you just hit Respond and address who you want to talk to for the whole crowd to read. Regardless, I do want to thank you all for taking the time for your feedback to my question. Very cool! But, back to business.
The entire point of my original issue is, I love what I have and know it is good. But, like many of you, I'm looking for the next next step up to improve the quality of aestetics - or like Robert Harley conveys, go for the purity of sound - you want to feel like you're there with the musicians (or a concept to that effect). That is a pretty high standard and I may never get there - but damn I'm loving the journey as I know most of you do too or you wouldn't bother responding to a post from a novice like myself.
One of you asked about the rest of my system in order to better respond to my original question. My original post had a typo in it. Instead of a McIntosh MP 100 (phono pre-amp) I actually have the 1100 model (8K) which is night and day better. I've played nothing but vinyl since I got it a month ago. I also have the Kandid cartridge for my Linn Sondek turntable. I have a subwoofer from REL Stadium II (rebuilt entirely 2 years ago). The reason I have a multi-channel amp now is because I have a home theatre attached to it. Maybe some day I'll have a dedicated room for sound, but not yet. My Pre-amp is a McIntosh MX 121. There are no treatments to my living room where the system is - though I have a 15 foot ceiling and about 20 x 30 room. I don't own the place so I'm not investing in treatments, though I got it guys, that would make a world of difference.
Happy Holidays to the list..