I would like to enlighten everyone here with [what I think] is a superb $4500 home audio set up- from personal experience of course.

Keep in mind we all have different preferences on the way we like music to sound. I do not like subtle. I like my vocals crisp, clear and loud and like my bass the same way. I believe the listening experience should be 3-dimensional.

I have put this system together over the past 4 months:

TT: Rega P3-24 with TT PSU power supply (~ $1300)

CART: Ortofon 2M Bronze ($400)

PRE: Yamaha C4 ($160 on ebay + $550 refurb)

AMP: Emotiva XPA-2 ($800)

SPEAKERS: Cerwin Vega XLS-215 ($1200/pair)

Anyway....

Been using Technics sl-d3 table for past few months. The Rega was the last piece and it arrived yesterday and it tied everything together.

Listening to Portishead now and I feel like I finally see the light! There was always something missing from the sound. Vocals too far back, or the mids not right...couldn't put my finger on it. But the Rega was the final key that opened the door to my own little AUDIO NIRVANA.