FullRangeMan,
Thank you for the welcome and the advice. Always appreciated. My listening room is 18 x 24 but unfinished (concrete walls). Also, the left wall opens to another room; so you could say that I have some issues to address.
Currently I'm running some Aragon Palladiums through an 18k preamp and pushing the sound through some B&W 802N's. It all sounds pretty great, even with the room issues. However like many others, still on the prowl to find something better.
I haven't heard the brands you mentioned so will have to try to get a demo somewhere.
Thanks again!