Decided on a CDP.

[plastic penguin]

Apologies PP, I was focused on your ongoing trials and tribulations, will-I-or-won't-I goings on regarding speakers and CDP/DAC.

No need to apologise.

The easy route would be to go with another Arcam CDP, but I love challenges. Others, on the other hand, may call it foolhardy.

I did have Rega Saturn on my list, but, crassly, dismissed it due to A) as it's a toploader it would mean a major re-working of the hi-fi rack and B) had the Rega Apollo (original) and was fabulous in some areas but lacked depth and punch IMO, which, perhaps wrongly, choked me off the Saturn. For the a (very) similar price I'm getting a newer machine.