If there is a limited budget, apply the money to the weakest link. If that's the speakers go for it.

Beware the upgrade spiral, almost all of us do it because of finite funds. For each new piece try and overreach a tiny bit, it may save you a step up later.

Think long and hard about used equipment, will a used pair of speakers in the same price range outperform the Carnival 2? If you're new to all of this, Audiogon is amazing for used stuff.