New amp for Vandersteen 2CE

Build quality is better on the McCormack and Pass Labs, but you have a good point on Odyssey.  They are getting good reviews though I have never tried one.

Thanks, really appreciate the McC and Adcom comparison.  Since the 565 are a pair, upgrading does start to add up, and the cost is pretty similar to a DNA 0.5.

I build my own interconnects using teflon or foamed PE shielded cable.

adg101 - thanks, I'm strongly considering the Aleph 5 despite a form factor that will be difficult to integrate, a power switch buried on the back, and the fact that it is a "toaster"! 

jl35 - poor quality DAC is overstating it a bit.  My experience is the DAC is capable enough.  Next project will be to try out several external DACs, but this is an area of high cost and diminishing returns.

bondmanp - I've done some digging and Odyssey sure does get some love, so well worth considering.

So really it comes down to putting some money down and trying some things out.  These all seem like really good options.

hey, if I was happy as-is, we wouldn't be talking :) 

Thanks Atmasphere. I have tube guitar amps, but haven’t gone to tubes in my audio system. For now exposed tubes seem like a problem waiting to happen - kids.

Wow, really great responses here!
Ayre, Sim Audio - would LOVE to try these, but they are far above where I would like to be for cost, which is below $1k.
Atmasphere - fair point, the kids aren't babies anymore, so it's not as big of a concern as it was a few years ago.  There doesn't seem to be much available used below $1k.  Any thoughts on particular models that might be interesting to look at?
Bombaywalla - I can't say I'm a fan of MOSFET or BJT output stages in particular.  My theory is that it's more about the execution and working around the peculiarities of the technology rather than one being inherently better than the other.  The 2CE has an interesting impedance plot, averages maybe 6 ohms with dips to 4 ohms at 40Hz, and 3 ohms at 5kHz.  So not an overly taxing load (not worried about amp stability at all), but could result in frequency response deviations if an amp can't deliver the current it should at 3 or 4 ohms.
digepix - I'm in the same camp with power.  I have 300wpc now, and while that is entertaining to "wow" friends briefly, the majority of my listening is at very moderate levels.  I should put an oscilloscope on the speaker leads and see how low it is really.

Pulled the trigger on a Pass Labs Aleph 5 that was for sale locally at an attractive price.  The build quality is phenomenal - a real piece of industrial art.  Sound quality is certainly there - nice detail in the high end, clean midrange and powerful bass.  60 watts is certainly sufficient in my room with these speakers.  Very pleased.

Now wondering what an external DAC will do for this setup... seems like a good topic for another thread!

I'm thinking Parasound ZDAC, DAC Magic, Benchmark DAC1, or the Bifrost.  Hadn't considered the Multibit, but it does look interesting.  Obviously just going to have to try something and see how it goes.