i prolly *should* inwolve my wife more, it would be less hassle, but it usually works out ok. when i replaced my solid-state preamp w/a rogue 99, she was ecstatic! she loved it!!! well, i didn't, and when i told her i sold it, she got *really* pissed. i told her not to worry, we won't be going *backwards* - the next preamp will have everything she liked about the rogue, and *then* some. well, when the cary showed up, she had to agree w/me, but she still wasn't happy - she was afraid i was gonna ditch *it* also, & dint wanna get attached to it, cuz i told her a melos was on the way, & whichever one i(we) liked better was gonna be *the one*. well, when the melos arrived, she was *really* happy - even nicer than the cary! problem is, she really likes all the stuff & the music, but she's not really interested in the nuts-n-bolts, so she gets nervous when i start making changes. she's also concerned about appearance of speakers, as they sit out so far into our room. the newform research speakers i'm considering *really* have her nervous. i tol' her there's a 30-day audition guarantee, if the sound doesn't ease the pain of the appearance, out they go! fortunately, she *does* have a good ear, and *does* enjoy listening, so if they *do* sound great, she will wanna keep 'em! ;~)