My system currently tips the scales at just over 500 lbs. Ouch! In 35+ years of this craziness, I cannot actually think of lightweight components that could not be outdone by their heavyweight counterparts. Not to say the former are not good. I thought the Bel Canto 1000 monos were pretty good, but prefer what happen to be heavier amps. Same with the passive preamps I've tried out - initially I enjoyed them but when put in direct comparison it was apparent something was missing. I've liked the Minuets you mentioned (though haven't heard the "Supreme" version), but liked the Proac 1sc even better (only a few lbs heavier). That is somewhere where I've found something really special is available - small monitors...really good ones...can do things larger heavier speakers fall short on. That seems to be in the soundstaging/imaging department. But even there again, the very best I've heard happen to also be some of the heavier ones as well. I have no idea whether the weight factor has anything at all to do with it, but since you asked, that's all I can come up with. Headphone rigs are another slant on 'lighter', but that becomes an entirely different beast, and has been discussed ad nauseum on various threads.
