NEW BUSINESS:

Hoping this system will remain stable for awhile. I've updated most of the interconnects with cleaner, shorter runs of Blue Jeans Cable, added an AirPort Express to stream iTunes, and upgraded from the Sumiko Blue Point No. 2 to the Lyra Dorian. I occasionally fantasize about new speakers, but the Monitor Audios are unlikely to go anywhere soon. There's a chance I may still buy a DAC at some point but I'm pretty happy with everything at the moment. Now if I could just train my cat not to go after the Denon headphone cables, I hardly use them now because I have to hide them away in a drawer.

OLD BUSINESS:

Although I miss the sleek, compact look of my Music Hall integrated and CDP, I was intrigued by the low, low price of the Emotiva separates along with the big (for my living room, anyway) power amp. So far no complaints; this system has sounded better than anything I've owned. I'm probably not going to add a subwoofer, but I'd like to add a Squeezebox Touch (instead of AirTunes), as well as an X-DACv3. I've also been lusting after the Michell Gyro SE, but that's going to have to be a long, long-term (if not outright unattainable) goal.

OLDER BUSINESS:

This system spawned from my home theater when I bought a house in Fall 2008. The Music Hall CD player really surprised me and has been making me rethink my turntable setup quite a bit (the cost difference between the two is huge and I've been impressed by the CD player). I'm looking at cartridges in the $200-500 range, especially the Dynavector 10x5, Grado Platinum, and Clearaudio Aurum Beta. I've been working as best I can to optimize set-up in hopes of putting that cartridge purchase off for awhile, though. Also looking at the Pro-Ject Speed Box SE II, but that's a big investment when my TT speed is only .1% off according to the KAB Speedstrobe I recently purchased. Also vaguely considering cable upgrades (using a mishmash of generic, Acoustic Research, and one Monster currently) but that's a game I'm hoping to stay out of. I hope to add a record cleaner and maybe some nice headphones with a used Musical Fidelity X-CANv3. Less important to me is a DAC for an iPod or my laptop, thinking about getting AirTunes to stream wirelessly. Finally (?) a Pro-Ject tuner box or the Music Hall T25.2 that goes with my integrated and CD player. It's a full-time hobby (another word for that might be "obsession").