Upgrade from Soundtech mixer pres with M-Audio DMP3 or Studio Projects VTB1?

[amra]

I've got $250 dollars to put towards my home studio. Where should I put it?

I am just a 'student' for lack of a better word, of the recording/mixing arts. What I am slowly working towards, is being able to record demos in that are good enough so that the recording quality is better than average. Not shooting for high end studio quality, just better than the average joe shmoe's demo who DOESN'T spend hours reading posts here and elsewhere learning about techniques and reading gear reviews.

I have done TONS of research reading reviews everywhere, and at some point I want Great River MP-2NVs in the rack, and a high end compressor that adds something NICE to the sound, not that those are they holy grail, but it would be for what I am out to do. But right now, my experience and skill doesn't warrant that kind of equipment. It is pretty clear that in lower end (sub $500-800) stuff all you can hope for is TRANSPARENCY, not 'color'.

I am recording at 24bits 96khz into an older version of Wavelab, and having to push the mixers pres past 12 O'clock to get around -10 to -8db at the converters. Anyone have any experience with older soundtech pres?. I really don't have anything else to compare them with.

Or, I could use that $250 to buy:
- A couple of SM-57's or 1 SM-57 and an Audix I-5 (currently my 'best' mic is a PG-57, which really is capturing some pretty good guitar tone all considering)
- An Audio Technica ATM25 and either an SM-57 or an Audix I-5
- or an FMR-RNC (currently using a presonus comp-16)

I am going to have another $500+ to put into this i a few weeks, but I badly need more recording channels, so I was thinking of putting that into an EMU-1820. Would either an M-Audio DMP3 or Studio Projects VTB1 pre-amp be an upgrade over a mid-90's Soundtech ST-1602's pres? Where should I put this $250?

Thanks!
Amra