If you do not have digital amps to compare then you have no idea of what the future holds. Why would you buy a DAC, a preamp, analog interconnects and a regular class D or other amp......when all of that can maybe be replaced by one component?......basically a Power DAC. A modded Peachtree GaN 1 or a modded VTV D300 are a must for this comparison. You would need a great streamer with coax out and great volume control, and you need a great coax cable. We have several people who have replaced their class AB, class D amps and DACs and preamps with these simple digital amps. The big Technics digital amp should also be in the mix...........but really what should be the main thing to find out is how good the digital amp is from Mark Levinson......(the Maria amps from Daniel Hertz). He has one that is $8K and is an integrated amp with volume control.......so $8K versus....a DAC, preamp, analog cables and class D amps.......so the Hertz is cheaper......but the GaN 1 and VTV are way, way cheaper than that. They are $2K with the mods!!!!!!!! Don’t live in the past, Find out what is possible before buying $5400 class D amps plus DAC plus preamp plus analog interconnects ($15K total) that may not sound any better than a $2K modded digital amp.......and if the $8K Hertz is way better than buy that instead of the $15K combo.
After you have saved a bunch of money with the digital amps you can then get even crazier by buying another digital amp and the minidsp xover and make your own 2 way bi-amped speaker. You can use two 9.5 inch Satori woofers in a box (ported or sealed....same woofer used in Qualio IQ speaker but two per box here for more impact) and on top you can use a stack of four 8 inch planar drivers from Parts Express (GRS PT6825-8)....mounted on an open baffle. Cross over around 500 hz and equalize the whole thing using the minidsp so it is plus and minus 2 db at your listening position. The four planars in series parallel would be in the high 90s for sensitivity......very dynamic! This bi-amped speaker with both amps and crossover and wires and everything would cost:
$4K for two amps, $1500 for drivers, $500 for the wood, etc. $500 for the xover and $350 for a great power supply for the xover, 3 coax digital cables (one going into the xover and two coming out)....maybe $1000, $500 for PCOCC 14 guage litz wire to wire it all up with.......and more for super power cords, footers, stands, etc. So, let’s say $10K for the whole shebang. This bi-amped super speaker/amp combo would probably kill most $100K systems in transparency and realism.....of course, it won’t be as dynamic as horns........but in every other way.....amazing......Who will be the first to try this? Remember.....there is no DAC, preamp, analog interconnects needed in this system. This would be all hardwired.....ie; speaker wires hardwired from amp directly to drivers.....NO speaker connectors. This is incredible!!!