Am I spending too much money?


I know the sky is the limit and one can spend countless dollars. My question involves some economy and not a limitless bank account./

After years of searching I finally have a speaker setup I like and think is a great deal unless I spend a lot more money - triple - for my listening room of 12 x 11 x 8ftceilings

GME Europa original not max and sunfire true sub mark II

I won't get into the myriad of systems I have tried over the years unless asked. But this setup is unobtrusive - sounds real both in the bass and mids and while I have had silkier mids and sharper highs they haven't been in this kind of tonal balance and clarity. So for now I am happy here.

So I wan't to get an amp/preamp/integrated amp and am considering the Mark Levinson 383. But am wondering for the same $3.5k used am I missing the point and could get a lot more bang for my buck. If the 383 at that price in my setup will be top shelf sonic nirvana and it is the minimum entry $$$ level point for top shelf then fine. I want to spend the $3.5k but If I can get BETTER perfromance from say a BAT vk-3i $1,200 used and a whatever amp at $1,500 used then I'm ahead a lot and got BETTER SOUND.

So I suppose the bottom line is for $3.5 with the speakers I have and since I like convenience a SONY-CDPM55ES player (yes - 400 disc carousel - top of the line ES. If apple is getting away with MPEG on iPods will a $1,500 used cd player be all that??? over the Sony? - OK if that is the case then a preamp / power amp / cd player combo for my speaker system at $3.5k.
soundit
If I had that budget, I would get a pair of Green Mountain Audio Callisto's, and a decent used amp. I live in the same town as Green Mountain Audio (Colorado Springs) and have heard most of Roy's offerings. The Callisto's are truly wonderful speakers. You might find you don't need that subwoofer anymore.

JD
I like JD's suggestion of losing the sub, and moving up to the Callisto's. As far as amplification, I'm happy I made the switch to a good integrated... I previously had less than stellar luck with amp / preamp combo's of YBA 3 series & BAT VK 200 amp(good) and VK30 preamp(not impressed). If I were in the market for an integrated I'd also be looking at the VAC Avatar in addition to the M. Levinson 383. As far as CDP's, I just picked up the old Sony Flagship XA7ES and am thrilled (approx. $850 used).
I am not sure if the Callisto would be all serving without a sub, but those are some really great speakers!