Charlie,
It seems we have many coincidences.
I, too, have an excellent silver coax cable.
The problem with the noise on pause, I’m sure, is a Gungy phenomenon. I get it too. If the unit weren’t so good, it would be a most definite deal breaker. We’ll have to live with it if we want to keep it.
Interestingly, I much prefer the sound of the Gungnir with the Oppo transport.
The definition is probably better with the Cambridge, but there is, on my system, a shrillness I don’t like. The Oppo just sounds better and has plenty of detail. Maybe the Cambridge will sound different after more break in.
I love the improvement in every dimension the Gungy makes over my old Theta, which I’m using now because the Schiit stopped working! (I guess you could say, it crapped out.) They are sending me a new one. (High marks to them for doing that after I had it for almost a month.)
I’m probably going to return the CXC when I get the Multibit back if the synergy doesn’t improve. Even though it sometimes mistracks now, I’ll keep it until I send it back.