Bishopwill, if the "sound" never reaches my ears, I cannot hear the music. Music is a sonic phenomenon, in presentation, at least. I am not going to take your bait for the analog/tubes vs digital/SS debate. I have stated my points on those issues on other threads. If my speaker design choices, source component choices, and amplifier design choices are not your "cup of tea", then by all means, make your own selections. I use over 30 years of listening,studying, designing, building, buying, and employment in high-end audio shops, as well as being a musician, concert goer, music and record collector and enthusiast, as my basis for my choices. I have listened to virtually every type of music and every type of equipment made for its reproduction. I have a strong background in music, its theory, practice, and performance, and a strong technical background as well. I feel well equipped to make good decisions for my listening needs. I fail to understand why you, and a few others, need to follow my posts around the forum, making sugar-coated insinuations about your perceived lack of ability on my part to understand music, its reproduction, and technical merits of various designs.If you have additional problems with me, please take it off the forum and email me personally.