P59teitel, your dead right on that call (someone has to be right, eventually!), the softer nature of the SA-103 surprised me being CLASS A and all. It was a thirty-second read.
Well, I can't afford a Burmester! I'm deeply into the used market for a Boulder 1060 (12-14K range). I think I've lost my mind at 10-14K! But, I'll use it till they shove me in a square 8-foot deep hole. So the buck stop at or south of 14K.
The SIM unit I listened to was a 700i dual MONO, 175 watts/channel. It was VERY good sounding. It was detailed without being thin. Mids were full deep and against a pure black backdrop. Bass was exceptional with a HUGE soundstage. I need to get a W8 or the 860A and the PASS XP-10 going.
I'll have to get back on the Octave integrated I listened to. It was good, but after the i700, no way would I stay with it. I'm not being mean to you tube lovers, I heard the "magic" in the texture of voice on the Octave, for sure. It was nice but, my ear just goes to the detail like a moth to a flame. It's me. Nothing has it all, so you seem to settle on one side or the other.
I have to drag my XP-10 and KISMETS over to try to square-up what I can expect from my XP-10, and what level of improvement I hear from the KISMETS which aren't terrible at all. But against this level of stuff, I expect a difference akin to the Octave verse the sim i700. Both are good, one is better!
Remember, I'll go full balanced with the SIM 860A or Boulder 1060, too. The XP-10 is supposed to be much better with balanced out-puts.
Thanks for hanging in there on this thread. You all are in a better financial deal with the eventual outcome compared to me!