OK, I just auditioned a plinius with an AyreK1x and it was very good. I susspect that CJ,ARC would be great also but it is more a matter of taste than one being better than the other- just keep in mind that all you can do is listen, get a short list of best in the price range and do the one that either sounds better for you or is built better than the other great options. Jadis and audion don't excite me but Ayre,CJ,ARC do. They are not the same though. Ayre is the most dynamic while CJ is the most bloomy. Which kind of sound do you prefer-you cant have it all for any amount of money. Depending on the system, I could see myself with any of these three, get the idea?