New amp or cd player?

i would like to spend less than 500. wife doesnt understand how expensive this stuff is. I know that amp cant be working very well with the golds. I have heard they are difficult speakers to drive. I dont know if it would be a bigger difference with a new amp or cd player. I was thinking of getting a music hall 25.2 or something in that price range. appreciate the info Kevin

Don't worry so much about wpc ratings. I am sure your speakers would play just fine with Accuphase A-60 with a measly 60wpc. Yes 20 watts less than what you have but it is all class A with power tranny that weighs as much as 100 lbs by itself. In my book class d and T amps with 250-500 wpc don't sound very good. I had 400 watt first 125 in class A Aragon Palladium 1Ks becuase they doubled down and were reportedly capable of handling difficult loads. These were replaced 78 wpc monoblock tube output power amps. I cannot begin to explain how better they sound to me.

Maybe try a Music Hall mambo? They come up occasionally.

so maybe i should go with a better cd player??? i really think this would help. any other ideas about a piece that would be better? i hate the nad because i cant replace the power cable, its hardwired. uggg thanks guys

amp - maybe a Forte 4 or 4a ... probably be a bit more than $500 but a true classic; another possibility is a PSE Studio IV. the Forte would need some breathing room as it runs HOT

CD player - Naim CD3 would fall into your price range; older model but still very good