Thanks for the input so far. Distortion: stop drooling and and go and get a pair of these speakers before the price goes up because of the weak USD (I paid HKD40,000 = USD5,200 for my rosewood pair, there's been a price rise here since then). There're a couple of good reviews at audioreview.com. Bought them unheard after listening to a mates S3.4's (trying to get an audition of anything at most Hong Kong dealers is like pulling teeth, and a home trial is simply unheard of). Even after only a few hours with my Denon AVC-A1-SE (hence the amp upgrade) they are a huge improvement on my KEF's, with beautiful imaging (they disapear!) and very detailed top end from the Esotar 2 tweeter. Hoping a new amp will get a bit better handle on the bass.
The biggest problem with the Dreadnaught is it's size! I'd have to re-arrange my whole room to fit it in. I haven't seen Plinius for sale here, and the Krells, Levinsons etc sound/look very nice, but are just so much more expensive than the Theta or Bryston (the 5x225W Theta is USD6,500 here, with the Bryston a few $$ less).
Vettemanbc: I'd love to have access to buy/sell used gear like Audiogon (there's almost no market for used here, I'm still wondering what to do with my KEF's) but shipping to/from the Far East would be prohibitive. I'm still trying to clarify the warranty situation with the Bryston agent in H.K., but dealers tell me the local warranty is only one year, with the twenty year one requiring a return to Canada, which is the other side of the world from here.