@wadia150 Yeah, I hear you very clearly. I went with the Ruby for many of the same reasons you list out... I got open box both the amp and the cd player/dac for a lot less than even a used Accuphase e480, so I threw in a bluesound node (the new model... 130 is the model #?) and I’m still well under the 480. The 480 is pretty and I’m sure sounds great, but I am certain the Ruby will sound great too... more than great to my imperfect 60 year old ears, surely... since I even like the seemingly-lowly Marantz nr1200. I haven’t even hooked up the Rubies yet because I’m travelling currently.
Plus, since I’m buying another house, I used some of the remaining surplus savings to pay for inspections, and then some... will STILL have more left over for some minor house repairs like a few broken shingles and whatnot.
So I get a great new stack w five-year warranty plus a bluesound for less than just one used amp alone.... indeed, I’d still have money to throw on an FM tuner, if I decide to... a Rotel or Sangean or something (but maybe the bluesound streamer will take care of all that, although I like the idea of having over the air option).
I was sorely tempted by the gorgeous 480, but I am fully confident that the Ruby stack will be exceptional and far beyond what I’ve ever owned before, and even what I’ve owned before sounds excellent w my speakers and better in fact than most more expensive fancy setups that I’ve encountered... so that’ll do it, and I think I have my priorities straight, too, really...
Thank you everybody for helping me think things through.