What's A Good Upgrade From A Manley Steelhead?

@bdp24 Interesting idea. I've heard Shindo gear a few times over the years, always in well-curated systems and it has always impressed. Your mentioning the 912 has reminded me that that particular unit was high on my 'watch list' a couple of years back before I bought the Emotive Epifania linestage, and then later the Veloce LS-1. Perhaps I'll revisit that.

Yes, Art Dudley helped take me down the path of exploring vintage speakers with his writings on the Altec Valencia. I ran the Valencia 846b for a while and later the larger VOTT A7. 

Thanks for reminding me about the EAR-Yoshindo 912.

@larryi I'm with you on the virtues of tube gear. Thanks for the suggestions. I've heard very little from Audio Note's electronics line, just their speakers, which I've heard at shows and up at Deja Vu Audio near DC.

I suppose the idea of running a second phono alongside the steelhead makes some sense, though I do have a second system with an Allnic H1202 and an old VPI TNT that I need to bring into service.

All good suggestions, thanks.

@grislybutter "You can go sideways or down. Looking at your system, you would benefit more from different speakers...."

Thanks. I'm curious to know if you've heard the Piega C40, and curious to know more about why you think I'd benefit from something different. I'm not necessarily disagreeing, just wondering what's behind your suggestion.

@rooze 

you seem to have an impeccable, high-end system and I can recognize most components but not the speakers. So, no, I have no knowledge of what they are. 

From your room size, you could go with horn speakers (not Klipsch). That appears to be a new direction and upgrade in a few aspects.

But as I mentioned above and in other posts, I am the village idiot here, I am here to learn and have little to contribute.

@grislybutter - OK, thanks. I was asking since I've been trying different speakers and thought you might have some experience with the Piegas.

I've had horns in this room and I like a lot of their properties but not all. I've had Klipsch Khorns, Altec Valencia, and A7s, but nothing modern at this point.