Additional questions:

1) A lot of folks over at the MUG seem to think the various mods to the 1.6 are absolutely necessary. Would I be stupid to keep my speakers stock? If so, would I be able to find someone near me (SF Bay Area) to do the mods for me? I don't even know where my solder gun is!

2) Anybody have any experience with the Odyssey Extreme mono blocks? They also get some favorable opinions from all the reviews I've read.