Well fellas, thanks for all your input. I settled on a pair of XA200.5 off our host site here. After reading the reviews out on the web and opinions on the forums, i’m confident it will be a worthwhile investment. Not to mention that it should be a significant improvement over what i am currently running.
With respect to my source, I have a custom built media PC with high end sound card sending signal via SPDIF output using Transparent Reference digital cable to WYRED DAC. Transparent Ref balance cables to AR 5SE, Transparent reference to Levinson 331 and finally MIT Shotgun MA speaker cables to C4’s (haven’t tried Transparent Ref spark cables yet believe it or not-had just upgraded from Transparent Ultra). I used to run a 3500.00 Denon DVD audio player (circa 2005?) but retired it because the sheer advantage of using a media PC that can play my DVD music, HD files, CD’s in WAV format and youtube when guests are over. Yes, poor quality but nice when one is entertaining and someone really really wants to hear his or her song from youtube! However, you have got my attention and perhaps i should invest in an updated CD or DVD player to experience my components full potential. I’m now getting back to familiarizing myself with old music that i used to listen to a lot in my younger days. Preparing my ears for when the XA’s arrive. I’m excited is an understatement!!!
With respect to my source, I have a custom built media PC with high end sound card sending signal via SPDIF output using Transparent Reference digital cable to WYRED DAC. Transparent Ref balance cables to AR 5SE, Transparent reference to Levinson 331 and finally MIT Shotgun MA speaker cables to C4’s (haven’t tried Transparent Ref spark cables yet believe it or not-had just upgraded from Transparent Ultra). I used to run a 3500.00 Denon DVD audio player (circa 2005?) but retired it because the sheer advantage of using a media PC that can play my DVD music, HD files, CD’s in WAV format and youtube when guests are over. Yes, poor quality but nice when one is entertaining and someone really really wants to hear his or her song from youtube! However, you have got my attention and perhaps i should invest in an updated CD or DVD player to experience my components full potential. I’m now getting back to familiarizing myself with old music that i used to listen to a lot in my younger days. Preparing my ears for when the XA’s arrive. I’m excited is an understatement!!!