Somehow the Ref's just aren't doing it for me lately, even with the beta version of SOCS I had. Realistically it's probably not even the speakers' fault - since I moved them to my basement I haven't liked the way my system has sounded and the issue is probably just the acoustics down there. Or, it might be the amp - the JVC RX-F10S that replaced my trusty Cayin tube amp. Still, I want to sell them off before the resale value drops any lower... I paid almost $1500 (well, $1600 w/ an A-120 to be exact) for the Ref 1's, and right now I think they're worth about $900. That's a major drop already and I'm afraid it's going to drop even lower when the Mini's come out. I've already taken a big enough hit because of the rosewood ref 1 package and because so many people have sold ones they got at the package price. The PT gear is already gone, I'm just waiting for the check to get here. I couldn't see keeping it any longer and having to pay another $400 once the final version of SOCS is released (if that ever even happens anyway), and then having the whole thing depriciate even further when the next generation is released... it is 4 year-old technology after all. At least I'm getting a good part of my money back selling now, and if it drops another couple hundred in value that's a much less painful hit for the new owner than it would have been for me.
As for where I'm going with my system, right now Vinnie is building one of his battery-powered tripath amps for me and he's also going to put a Scott Nixon DAC in one of his enclusures for me and set it up to be powered from the same kind of SLA battery. For speakers I'm ordering Cain & Cain Abby's. The whole thing is kind of a blind leap, but it's in a very interesting minimalist/purist direction that'll give me almost complete freedom from the variation of a/c power, and won't involve crossovers either. Should be fun, and I figure if I don't like the Abby's I can sell them anyway try the Strata mini's, which I'm wait-listed for right now.
Gary
