Do you warm and tubey or great detail and definition? You can't go full out both ways.
I have owned or presently own both the 21 GNSC'd and the AA Capitole player.
You will get more of what you want with the AA - it is a beautiful sounding device. It is NOT the most detailed (ie. like a wadia, esoteric, etc. . .), but that is what you must give up for that warm, tubey sound.
The 21 (modded) is a good inbetween. I doesn't fall apart with large scale music, has digital inputs and volume control.
The AA is unreliable in terms of build quality and is made in France, where is basically needs to be sent to for any reasonable repairs.
Either EMM Labs or DCS are both going to take you much fruther than the 21, but for a lot more money. Neither can be confused as tube sounding, but are very neutral and will not deliver the stridency that wadia and esoteric are sometimes known for. By the way, I love both Wadia and Esoteric.
I have owned all of the units/brands referenced above over the past few years, so this is not passing along what I read elsewhere or heard at a dealership.
