Moon 761 -> 861 upgrade but keeping the 791 preamp/streamer

Thanks @mgrif104 I'm definitely going to audition them as well by swapping out the amps and holding the 791 fixed.

@freediver thanks for reminding me about cables; I've been meaning to audition the Transparent (ultra) and will do so. I have actually listened to the Tellurium Q at a friend (who also has a Moon setup though with different but also excellent speakers,  the comparison isn't fully controlled), but the Analysis Plus Oval 9s --- the ones I have --- sound better to me. These are in no way "standard OFC" cables :-) 

@debrajray it is known that "lots of books" do not serve any meaningful room treatment purpose. Their absorption and diffusion are highly marginal, at best, and indeed only for the highest frequencies (shortest wavelengths).

That’s just wishful thinking on some people’s part.

I agree with some other responders that there’s no point in spending quite a lot of $$$ on an 8-series upgrade without having a very well sorted-out listening room, acoustically.

As least from a sound quality perspective. Now, if you want to do it for the purpose of feeling good about having their top-end unit, that’s another matter.

@bimmerlover a veritable voice of reason! I agree with you, even though I'm going to go over to my dealer and listen for the fun of it. I don't have a well-treated room (acoustically speaking) --- and don't intend to turn my living room into a listening room either --- and I think I can do better on the speaker cables, so I am "unbalancing" what I have by going for the 861. So: better cables is a more natural step. Finally, nope, I don't need to feel good about having their top-end unit. Well put; thanks!

Grover Huffman Pharoah speaker and interconnect cables are damn good cables.  I have a full loom of them in my refernce system.  I have also used Zavfino Silver Dart IC’s - they are excellent but more expensive cable than the Grover Huffman stuff.