My system consists of a Wadia 860x CD player, a BAT VK500 amplifier, Martin-Logan reQuest speakers, Nordost Quattro Fil interconnects XLR and Nordost SPM Reference speaker cables. In addition, there is a PS Audio P300 feeding the Wadia, one PS Audio 20-amp high current outlet for the speakers and one PS Audio 20-amp high current outlet for the amp. I run the Wadia straight into the VK500, no preamp. My Wadia 860X recently underwent the Reference Upgrade, at Great Northern Sound Company, a Steve Huntley designed modification. You can clearly see musicians standing at the front, sides and rear of the recorded acoustic. In fact, the sound suspends belief like a great movie or a great book and surrounds you with the recorded acoustic so convincingly you forget youre listening to a CD. I'd go with the Wadia because Great Northern Sound Company can take it up to SACD performance levels. Good luck
