Thanks all for the incredibly helpful information (even the humorous responses!). It is doubly dangerous to be armed with science AND personal experiences.
Nutty / Aalenik - I'm using an ARC Ref5SE preamp currently. It took me about a week, maybe more of long listening sessions to fall in love with it. Initially I was a bit disappointed in the changes in moving from the K-5Xe - but by the end of two weeks couldn't move back.
Overall I'm pretty pleased with the way things are sounding now. Occasionally there is a bit of harshness in some of the highs - but it is minor. The best systems I have heard make me want to keep nudging the volume up as I listen. Mine seems to have a point at which louder is not better. I don't think I'm listening at ear-splitting levels mind you - generally when listening "loud" it rarely exceeds 82 to 83 db.
Nutty / Aalenik - I'm using an ARC Ref5SE preamp currently. It took me about a week, maybe more of long listening sessions to fall in love with it. Initially I was a bit disappointed in the changes in moving from the K-5Xe - but by the end of two weeks couldn't move back.
Overall I'm pretty pleased with the way things are sounding now. Occasionally there is a bit of harshness in some of the highs - but it is minor. The best systems I have heard make me want to keep nudging the volume up as I listen. Mine seems to have a point at which louder is not better. I don't think I'm listening at ear-splitting levels mind you - generally when listening "loud" it rarely exceeds 82 to 83 db.