Amp Upgrade Path?


Or maybe the question should be: What am I missing? I'm relatively new to the tube world. About a year and a half ago I bought a used Rogue CM1 (KT120 power tubes) and have steadily upgraded sources and cables....and enjoying it very much.
I'm at what I guess I would call full circle again...meaning my sources are here to stay for the immediate near future and I'm back to thinking speakers and amps.
As I gather, different power tubes have different sonic signatures and I just don't have a reference to what that means.
Is a Prima Luna better then a CM1?
maybe an Air Tight?
And then there is configuration: Power amp with a preamp? Mono Blocks and a preamp?....or stay with an integrated.....
The major short fall of the CM1 (imho) was the phono stage. This was corrected by a EAR 834P mm/mc phono stage. Analog source is a Nottingham 294 Space deck w/ a Lyra cart....w/ Acoustic Zen Matrix interconnects - thank you Audiogon  for getting me there.
Thanks for all recommendations
Budget: let's say 5K new or used
 

smaarch1

@russ69 thanks for your response and I completely agree
A friend has offered a sub and I think I need to hear the effects of this first as well as acoustically cleaning up this space. Thank you

and thanks @ghdprentice . I need to re-read your response and understand it better at a technical level before replying, none the less - thank you very much

@smaarch1 about two months ago there were similar conversations about your Rogue, your Totem Hawk's, and what you were looking for. Several members replied with good ideas, including our own.  I'd try this first.  What say you?

smaarch1 OP

 

So it appears I'm looking at subwoofers. A friend has a REL to loan me and I'll give it a try.

 

 

 

 

 

Even thought they're currently delayed a few weeks, I'd give serious consideration to the VTA M125 Monoblocks from Tubes4Hifi.com.  

http://www.tubes4hifi.com/M125.htm

@smaarch1 where are you located? Any dealers in your area that can loan you an amp? Have you considered the new Atmasphere class D monoblocks? Haven't heard them myself but from others hearing good things about them.