[JCD]

With a good return policy at your store, I'd start off small and work your way up to the more expensive products until you get the results you want. That or buy the cheaper one and the expensive one at the same time and see if you can tell a difference.

I don't have it, but I'm a believer in using a little judicious eq'ing to squeeze a little more performance out of a system.

As for the AD/DA issue, I know I'm in the minority (probably) on this one, but I don't think with today's converters that this is such an issue anymore. Again, i realize I'm probably not speaking for most folks on this issue.

Good luck and I look forward to hearing about your tests.

JCD