Finally made a speaker purchase (Triangle Antal's), and am wondering what to blow cash on next. I have an old Sony receiver (70 wpc, date unknown but most likely from the late 70s), and an old JVC cd player (mid-80s).

Would it make more sense to update the 20 year old cd player and replace it with something better (I am thinking of a player that will handle DVD-A/SACD amongst other formats), or update the amplification?

I was thinking the amplification would be next, but while I am waiting on the speakers, I began to think about upgrading the source. My reasoning is that a bad source will sound bad no matter what.

As always, thanks in advance...

I say replace that Sony receiver. Then to get you by until you have more cash get an inexpensive DVD player with a digital audio output. A sub $100 unit would be an upgrade to your mid 80's CD player. Then you could enjoy Dolby Digital and DTS movies along with greatly improved 2 channel audio.

Puppethead,
go for the electronics - like Daryl mentioned. You upgrade the electronics Pre/pro/Amp combined w/ the sub $100 DVD player - it is the pre/pro DAC doing all of the work.
Plus your Triangle's will be thanking you....

Thinking - even if you put jet fuel in a yugo - you still get yugo performance - every time.

I'd have to third that notion. Going from a 80's Yamaha to my Outlaw 950/7100 made a surprisingly large difference in my system.

You can also get a DVD-A/SACD player for under $200 these days, but you won't get the full benefits without proper bass management -- so this is yet another reason to move past the old receiver.

Thanks all.

Should have the Triangles tomorrow night. Supposedly they take a while to get properly broken in, so I'll probably hold off getting any new equipment until I have a few miles on them.