Need help determining next upgrade - 3rd ATTEMPT

Have you tried a little toe-in, on your speakers? Do you have anything on the side walls & ceiling, to combat reflections? (http://stereos.about.com/od/optimizingperformance/a/treatments.htm)

"Smeared" is usually the fault of speakers in Classical Music.

I had midrange "congestion" issues with a pair of Vienna Bach speakers that mystified and bugged the bejeesus out of me...just a lack of clarity. In any case, it was out the door for them and in the door came a pair of Silverline Preludes that utterly showed it was the Vienna's fault (could have been a component in the crossover simply needing replacement)...with an issue as obvious as that I doubt power conditioning would help much as often the effects of un-conditioned AC are obviated by the time it gets through an amp, so get thee to a new speaker.

Nice link Rodman, I'll research room treatments. Also have looked at power upgrades. Entry level looks like $800 or so for new power strip/wall plug/cables. Also have gotten an estimate to run a dedicated line. Schubert, planning to audition the new Focal 906 standmounts. I run a 2.1 system so full range speakers are not totally necessary, providing I can integrate the sub with the new set...

Actually, it could be a number of things....one, or many. I would start with the simplest at first ..... cover any windows (glass), aim the speakers at your listening position, put resonance control feet under your turntable, cd player first...then preamp, and power amp. That will get you better sound....then upgrade (not necessarily more expensive) power cords. Power conditioners never worked for me.