To be frank I did not listen to any of the components I currently have or others. I read tons of reviews and user opinions instead. I decided that each component is dependand on the others and listening to only one is not useful. I started picking selection starting from the source and after almost buying used Ayre CD player I decided I want to have my TV and DVD also connected by digital interface. I bought Sony DVD player and Benchmark DAC1. That was easy choice (saved a lot of money on transport+DVD sound). AQ King Cobra was known before a Python and was expensive. AQ in order to be competitive moved production to China and slashed the price changing cables name. Now you can buy used one (0.5m) for $50 (no brainer). I intended to buy Bel Canto S300 for its glowing reviews but Rowland has great reputation (in 20 years released only great products) and it was cheaper then (forced Bel Canto to lower price). Satori Shotgun is expensive $1100 (bought used) but is probably the best choice for lean sounding system (slight lower midrange emphasis). Replacing everything with fairly neutral sounding components makes life easier in future. Now I have time to research speakers. Acoustic Zen Adagio with underhung speakers and ribon tweeters is one of possibilities.
PS Audio had good reviews in Stereophile - at least integrated amp but is over my price range. Red Dragon Leviathan (based on 1kW ICEPower) is one of the better digital amps as well as one called H2O - both well above my spending limits. Rowland's 201 and 501 monoblocks are great but again expensive.
Robert Lee the founder of Acoustic Zen presented his Adagio speakers this year connected by his cables (of course) to Red Dragon amps. He is perfectionist (Zen Buddist)and he thinks Red Dragon is the best.
Warning about didital amps - they often require very long break-in. My Rowland started sounding decent after 200hrs but after 400hrs sounded fuller. It is still changing (I bought it in April). It is releated to glues and varnishes on inductors and transformers that are drying long time in cool running amp.
PS Audio had good reviews in Stereophile - at least integrated amp but is over my price range. Red Dragon Leviathan (based on 1kW ICEPower) is one of the better digital amps as well as one called H2O - both well above my spending limits. Rowland's 201 and 501 monoblocks are great but again expensive.
Robert Lee the founder of Acoustic Zen presented his Adagio speakers this year connected by his cables (of course) to Red Dragon amps. He is perfectionist (Zen Buddist)and he thinks Red Dragon is the best.
Warning about didital amps - they often require very long break-in. My Rowland started sounding decent after 200hrs but after 400hrs sounded fuller. It is still changing (I bought it in April). It is releated to glues and varnishes on inductors and transformers that are drying long time in cool running amp.