Thanks for the props guys.

I'm certainly not doubting my gear OR my cluttered set up. I've put alot of tireless effort into researching and listening. All the while, I have the benefit of A/B'ing against boutique brands at my local shop. Surprisingly, I am good up to several times the value of my system. This is the synergy shining through.

I generally don't like to boast about my stuff, short of excitement over something new. Besides, there's always someone to detract and who can be bothered to argue about something so subjective.

My pile of sleds can easily run over someone who has gone out with a big wad of cash, and spent on "big names". It's the same story everytime. They auditioned this and that, yaddy yaddy. I have heard those combinations of Arcam, Creek, NAD with PSB, Paradigm, etc. They sound great, but often they have a sterile quality also.

This is where I come out on top. Low level detail due to resolving gear and dedicated hydro (thanks Ralph). Immediacy and emotion for a truly engaging experience.

"The Audiophile Game" was a good exercise to see how everything I have matched up.