Gammajo- Given your musical preferences, large room, your love of the piano, as well as your appreciation of the micro-details available through good headphones and head-amp, I'd say you're just fine sticking with SS amps. I'm not sure why, but they (SS amps) do seem to do better justice to the piano in my experience, than tubes do. It is the one instrument I consistently prefer hearing with great SS gear, otherwise I much prefer tubes for most of the music I prefer.
There are plenty of great standalone players and player/DAC combinations in the $3k range. If I were looking in that range I'd be considering the offerings by Muse, Electrocompaniet, Ayre, and Resolution Audio. My experience with players of this caliber in particular, is that you'd be splitting hairs to make a decision among front-ends like these. The best thing to do is to go and hear a few for yourself in order to find your own preference. Each may have different strengths, while none will likely have any significant weaknesses. Do searches on each, and on any other suggestions you may get to see what folks are saying about them. You may even find a few direct comparisons. I've stuck to my Muse rig which is pretty dated at this point, yet continues to sound wonderful to me. It occurs to me as a very neutral, uncolored sound with a huge soundstage and plenty of detail. I've enjoyed hearing the Electrocompaniet, but never heard the two side by side. Many great things written here and on the Asylum about the Ayre and the RA, and my friend who has never steered me wrong has been going on about his RA Opus like it was God's gift to redbook. So there are four suggestions to start with, and you will no doubt get plenty more.
Have fun!
Marco
There are plenty of great standalone players and player/DAC combinations in the $3k range. If I were looking in that range I'd be considering the offerings by Muse, Electrocompaniet, Ayre, and Resolution Audio. My experience with players of this caliber in particular, is that you'd be splitting hairs to make a decision among front-ends like these. The best thing to do is to go and hear a few for yourself in order to find your own preference. Each may have different strengths, while none will likely have any significant weaknesses. Do searches on each, and on any other suggestions you may get to see what folks are saying about them. You may even find a few direct comparisons. I've stuck to my Muse rig which is pretty dated at this point, yet continues to sound wonderful to me. It occurs to me as a very neutral, uncolored sound with a huge soundstage and plenty of detail. I've enjoyed hearing the Electrocompaniet, but never heard the two side by side. Many great things written here and on the Asylum about the Ayre and the RA, and my friend who has never steered me wrong has been going on about his RA Opus like it was God's gift to redbook. So there are four suggestions to start with, and you will no doubt get plenty more.
Have fun!
Marco