Drop the DC1 from consideration for music--It digitizes all analog inputs. I compared it directly to two other cheaper pre/pros and the DC1 finished dead last in 2-channel(great for surround though).
Personally I think a better way to go, if music is your priority, is to get something like a $500 Outlaw A/V receiver for HT processing and buy a high-quality stereo preamp to run your front channels for critical 2-channel listening. If you get a stereo preamp with an HT passthrough feature it will seamlessly integrate with the Outlaw so you can easily switch between HT and stereo by simply pushing a button. These are available from companies such as McCormack, Adcom, C-J, ARC, Levinson/Proceed, VAC, Rogue, BAT, etc. Pre/pros that do a good job with stereo are pricey and you'll have to sweat future upgrades.
Here's an example: Pick up an Adcom GFP-750 stereo preamp(Stereophile Class A) for around $1200 and the Outlaw for a total cost of $1700. You'll get decent HT processing and true high-end, 2-channel performance that you'd have to spend $6000 or more on a pre/pro to begin to match. Just a thought on another way to go. Best of luck.
Tim
Personally I think a better way to go, if music is your priority, is to get something like a $500 Outlaw A/V receiver for HT processing and buy a high-quality stereo preamp to run your front channels for critical 2-channel listening. If you get a stereo preamp with an HT passthrough feature it will seamlessly integrate with the Outlaw so you can easily switch between HT and stereo by simply pushing a button. These are available from companies such as McCormack, Adcom, C-J, ARC, Levinson/Proceed, VAC, Rogue, BAT, etc. Pre/pros that do a good job with stereo are pricey and you'll have to sweat future upgrades.
Here's an example: Pick up an Adcom GFP-750 stereo preamp(Stereophile Class A) for around $1200 and the Outlaw for a total cost of $1700. You'll get decent HT processing and true high-end, 2-channel performance that you'd have to spend $6000 or more on a pre/pro to begin to match. Just a thought on another way to go. Best of luck.
Tim