I've owned C-J in the past and think it has good detail, but it's got a golden sonic overlay and others are more transparent and less colored. Of those on you list, I'd say Hovland, but I haven't heard a Hovland in several years.
Off you list, you knew this was coming, look at the Jeff Rowland Design Group Capri. Yes, I said Capri. It'll save you a ton of money and it'll meet or beat all you listed candidates in transparency and effortless detail. See Guidocorona's review elsewhere in A'gon, where he favorably compares the Capri to his ARC Ref 3. Don't let the low cost and small size set you back, that chassis is solid billet aircraft aluminium.
Dave
Off you list, you knew this was coming, look at the Jeff Rowland Design Group Capri. Yes, I said Capri. It'll save you a ton of money and it'll meet or beat all you listed candidates in transparency and effortless detail. See Guidocorona's review elsewhere in A'gon, where he favorably compares the Capri to his ARC Ref 3. Don't let the low cost and small size set you back, that chassis is solid billet aircraft aluminium.
Dave