Regarding upgrades, if I can add my $.02, my college years '72-'76 were all about the 901's, JBL's and Vega's. If you wanted "blow your face off" volume this is where you went. No one cared about music quality in the dorms or off campus in NH. There wasn't anyone around anyway. Just crank it up. Day or night!
These days I'm all about sound quality. First pressing, best pressings, whatever pressings. It all starts there. I make my speakers disappear.
For power, the vintage Pioneer SX-1010. 100wpc. It's a beast. Turntable is also a TD-165, mildly modded with a 1/2 birch bottom and feet from Vinylnirvana. The hardwood mod alone ($6) will tighten up your sound dramatically. Cart is the Denon 103r LOMC. It loves the heavier 16.5 gr. TP-11 arm. Preamp is the Music Hall PA 1.2. A drop light for the 103r (100 ohms vs 140 ohms), but not noticeable. Anticable reference 2.1 cables into Vandersteen 1C's (with sand in the stands). My listening space (11 x 9) is way too small for the bigger Vandy's, but you could look at the 2's for a more extended freq response and better low end. The Vandy's need space away from the wall, and you have it.
For what it is, this rig delivers clear, neutral and non fatiguing music. Loud or soft. Excellent soundstage that is deep as well as wide. I listen to everything from Boston, Hendrix, SRV, Cream, Zep, etc., on the loud side, to Miles, Evans, Manne, Steely Dan, classical etc., on the softer side.
My buddy runs a VPI Traveler/ Ortofon 2M Black / some fancy pre / Rouge Sphinx into Vandersteen Treo's. He can't get over how good mine sounds. I can't get over how bad his vinyl sounds! Very thin with no bass. Told him I think it's the Ortofon. Boy, does he get pissed, lol. Hope he's reading this.
VV