Upgrade Suggestions - Entry Level Setup

djones51,

"After you've read all the shilling for synergistic research garbage.."

I wish I'd said that.

A better amp ( more features and power) is one obvious answer.

Another would be a speaker upgrade. Nowadays there are quite a few high quality bookshelf (or even narrow footprint floorstanding) loudspeakers out there. 

If you want to stick with mini-monitors then your Oberon 1s will be hard to beat. So congrats on making a good buying decision there.

Since there's really little point in making incremental upgrades so you might as well wait until you can move on to some known high quality designs from the likes of Harbeth, Spendor, Rega or even pro audio designs from Neumann, Genelec, Yamaha etc. I'm sure there must be many others too.

When it comes to loudspeakers, there really is a bewildering choice out there. Like yourself I'm kind of stuck for upgrades too.

I guess once you get to the likes of Tannoy DCs the next serious step up is likely to be a very difficult and very costly one!

Here's what the legendary Dr Floyd Toole has at home.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thescreeningroomav.com/single-post/2019/03/06/The-Ultimate-Real-Wor...

Hi,
you may also consider KEF LS50 they will give you more authority and better bass. From there a better amp would be my second upgrade when ready.

Room panels.

The Dali's have a tilted up tweeter level, which makes them great for some, but they benefit more from a good room.

Instead of attempting DIY, talk to GIK acoustics.  They make very reasonably priced, very effective materials.

I'd leave the cables for last.

Best,
E

First off, thanks everyone for taking the time to respond.  I really appreciate it. 

 Djones51, I have thought about getting an external DAC but everyone's says I need to spend more than $1,500 to beat the Node 2i.  Any particular recommendations that will share a good synergy with the rest of my setup?

cd318, As for the amplifier, I was considering the Rega Brio and Marantz PM 6006.  I got this system just 6 months ago.  My wife will kill me if I went for another expensive equipment anytime soon.  So I am about 6 months away from upgrading the amp and dac.  But I'd love to get recommendations on Amps and Dacs I should keep in my consideration set. 

In the meanwhile, any other ideas?  Are my cables decent or should I consider upgrading?  Desktop stands like these?  Right now I have them on my TV cabinet with the stock bumpers that were supplied with the speakers.

To be honest, I don't even know what I want changed. Just feels like something's missing or could be better. lol