erik, I understand the cost aspect. My amp is the L-590AX, not the newest AXII, which had just came out when I bought mine. I bought it used, it looked perfect, though, and I paid around $4300 for it. It was a lot of money to me, but still near $5000 less than new. It took awhile, but I made up my mind that I was going with their TOTL integrated, rather than always wonder "what if". I haven't regretted it.