Audio Research CD7 is going to give you EVERYTHING you stated you were looking for. It gives and exceptional warmth to digital due to it being a tube based unit. I have not heard the new CD8 but it is supposed to be significantly better than the CD7 which is close to as good as it gets. The only thing I have heard that outperforms the REF CD7 from ARC is a DCS Scarlatti which is a mere $68,000. I would wait for teh CD8 which is 10K when i comes out or find a used CD7 for about half that. My system is comprised of a vandersteen 3A Sigs, Audioquest Volcano (DBL Bi-wire), ARC SP16L, ARC VS110, and a Rotel Rcd-1072 (can't afford the ones I am reccomending but I drool everytime I hear it at my dealer's) to give you an idea of my taste and where I am speaking from.