Marantz Ruby PM KI amp vs Accuphase e-480 or e-380

@wadia150 Yeah, I hear you very clearly. I went with the Ruby for many of the same reasons you list out... I got open box both the amp and the cd player/dac for a lot less than even a used Accuphase e480, so I threw in a bluesound node (the new model... 130 is the model #?) and I’m still well under the 480. The 480 is pretty and I’m sure sounds great, but I am certain the Ruby will sound great too... more than great to my imperfect 60 year old ears, surely... since I even like the seemingly-lowly Marantz nr1200. I haven’t even hooked up the Rubies yet because I’m travelling currently.

Plus, since I’m buying another house, I used some of the remaining surplus savings to pay for inspections, and then some... will STILL have more left over for some minor house repairs like a few broken shingles and whatnot.

So I get a great new stack w five-year warranty plus a bluesound for less than just one used amp alone....  indeed, I’d still have money to throw on an FM tuner, if I decide to... a Rotel or Sangean or something (but maybe the bluesound streamer will take care of all that, although I like the idea of having over the air option). 

I was sorely tempted by the gorgeous 480, but I am fully confident that the Ruby stack will be exceptional and far beyond what I’ve ever owned before, and even what I’ve owned before sounds excellent w my speakers and better in fact than most more expensive fancy setups that I’ve encountered... so that’ll do it, and I think I have my priorities straight, too, really...

Thank you everybody for helping me think things through.

I have my new Ruby connected to my older Pinnacle Baby Boomer powered subwoofer.  So far I have no issues whatsoever.  The Baby Boomer has left and right speaker level in lines and then lines back out to the speakers themselves.

I too was concerned at first about hooking up a sub to the Ruby because of the above quote, which is a strange one coming from a Marantz rep, but I have been assured by several other reputable sources that any such concerns are simply strange and wrong... Perhaps if one is hooking up a non-powered sub, there might be a legit concern of draw on the amp?  I don't know, but two reputable Ruby sales sources and both SVS and REL reps have told me there shouldn't be any worry at all. 

I guess if one is concerned, there are (too expensive) external crossovers available and also inexpensive speaker line to "RCA"-in converters as well...?  

As for external crossovers, though, imo it'd be best just to replace my sub w a more modern one that can be more fully controlled for a customized blend... think SVS.

The Pinnacle is a heck of a nice, tight sub in a compact form, dual 8" drivers facing opposite directions, sealed design, attractive finish.  I do wish my Pinnacle had a lower crossover so I could cross it at 40 instead of the 50 which is the lowest the Pinnacle offers.  50 is good with the Heresy IV speakers, but 45 or 40 would be better in my current room as the Heresy do a pretty good job down to 50.  40 or 35 would be better for my EPI speakers with Human parts which do an amazing tight articulate job down to about 45.  But a new SVS would have the advanced customization capability to blend close-enough to perfectly with either speakers, and based on the information that I have, hooking up via speaker level a sub to the Ruby should not be a problem at all.