Apologies to you. I know all my postings have been a bit (a lot) over the top and perhaps irritating or even obnoxious. I've never been so indecisive about a single thing in my life. I'm usually much more decisive. It's been fun but difficult at the same time. I've embarrassed myself a few times. My actual personality and my forum personality are quite different. But I think I'm a pretty good guy to get to know anyway.
Thankfully, it will be coming to an end in less than 3 weeks now. I can then sit back and enjoy what I've spent easily 100+ hours researching. I even spent $1000+ on a trip to Suncoast Sound for amp auditions. But if all my antics help another audiophile with their decision/s it will be a good thing.
As I've mentioned several times in previous posts, I started this venture last February after a 40+ year absence from high end home audio. I knew almost nothing about contemporary high end home audio. I had a lot of work ahead of me. Just getting up to speed on manufacturer names was a major undertaking. And I'm still learning. I didn't even know Schitt. Sorry, I couldn't resist.

I knew NOTHING about the digital aspects of high end audio. I've even been ridiculed for my ignorance in some posts. Growing up in the '50s and '60s, I'm barely computer literate, let alone digitally literate.
Anyway, I'm about to end the (intense) research and acquisition phases of this journey and I'm ready to start the ownership phase. Not that the research phase is ever done. I've read countless reviews on countless components and auditioned some. I've scoured 5 or 6 different forums for information and opinions. But I do feel much more confident in my knowledge of current high end home audio and even what I've learned about the digital aspects the last few weeks.
So, 3 more weeks to "pay day." As some of you know, I split my audio system purchase into 2 separate years (2019 and 2020) for tax purposes. I purchased the speakers, cables, and stands last summer and the remaining components will be purchased next month.
I'll post a review after I have the system up and running. It's kind of ironic that it probably wouldn't matter what brand of components I purchased. In the end I'd likely be just as happy with one component as another, especially higher end components. The components I'm purchasing are such highly rated ones I don't think I could go wrong. I doubt there is anything that sounds appreciably "better" in my system's relative price range. I could certainly find something that sounds as good, but different.
Over the next few months and years it's likely that "different" quality may be what I end up chasing. Hopefully, I will have done such a good job at researching the high end audio market I will find chasing that magical quality unnecessary. But I won't bet on it...yet.

Thank you for your patience and tolerance.
