Need Advice on Downsizing :-

Hi Outlier, I am very sorry to hear of your job situation. The same thing happened to me. I sympathize and understand your situation. I have owned the Nordost Q and the FIM Gold speaker cable. I had no problem selling the Nordost or my FIM speaker cable. I would sell these first. That was easy for me after hearing the Sakura OTA cable Kit. IMO, the OTA is a much better IC than the Nordost. I must admit, selling the FIM PCs almost broke my heart. I have yet to hear a better PC. Please read the Sakura OTA Cable Kit thread. You will get enough wire to out fit your system for $600. You will get 160 feet of wire and enough of their special RCAs to make up 3 pair of ICs. I like their IC better than the highly praised Vahalla, Valhalla, or whatever it's called. For the selling price of the SPM, this will buy you the OTA cable kit. IMO, you will get a better wire, and some cash to put in your pocket. Better times are ahead. You will be back in the saddle in before you know it.

Best regards, Bruce

Thanks everyone for the good advice and kind words. I'm leaning towards going with the cable change option first - sounds like the least drastic option, although I've been so happy with the cables - very noticeable upgrades from what I've had before. Fingers crossed I can land a job soon and be asking you all for upgrade rather than downgrade advice :-) Anyway, thanks again.
John.

And you will... (land that job -- or better!). Been there before. Don't sell everything -- as I did!

May I second Bruce & Sugar's advice for the SPM, the FIM, and any expensive chords you may have. Replace all with OTA for now.
The only further option is the CD1a, which is expensive & should have a good resale value: one option there would be a reasonable cdp used as transport & a ART DI/0 (only suggesting this from hearsay)

John, I'm a fellow technology victim as well. Brutal downturn has had far reaching effects, the "tech wreck" of 2001 will be remembered as a slice of history best forgotten. I started up a company to address the semiconductor intellectual property niche, take a look at http://www.voyageurtech.com
The CDP you own is terrific, I'd hesitate to sell it unless you really have no choice. The cables and associated accessories can be sold and replaced with more modest stuff without having to resort to selling off the fine gear you've accumulated. Hang in there, the technology business is bound to recover sooner rather than later, it's hard to find a consumer or industrial product that is not using semiconductors (at an ever-increasing rate). Drop me a line if you'd like to exchange ideas on potential job opportunities.

I'm no expert on audio yet, but assuming your not making monthly payments... keep everything that your happy with. They're is a saying about cars, but it may apply to audio as well... "the cheapest one you'll ever have, is the one you already got".

When you do find another job, it will cost more to move back up to what you already have. So unless there is a piece you would like to replace anyway, I would keep it if at all possible.