I have been there, done that. The Valhalla is clearly superior to the SPM. The SPM was lackluster in my system.
I now have the Transparent Opus which blows away the Valhalla BUT the low cost Pure Note Reference competes well with both the Valhalla and Opus in many areas. Actually the PN is better in soundstaging but not quite as refined as the Opus.
Valhalla: $10k
Opus: $30k
Pure Note: $1400
(all single wire).
All gets down to budget. If cost no object, Opus is your choice.
I now have the Transparent Opus which blows away the Valhalla BUT the low cost Pure Note Reference competes well with both the Valhalla and Opus in many areas. Actually the PN is better in soundstaging but not quite as refined as the Opus.
Valhalla: $10k
Opus: $30k
Pure Note: $1400
(all single wire).
All gets down to budget. If cost no object, Opus is your choice.