At least two comments singled out your amp, the Emotiva XPA-2, as a likely weak link. I would like to know, as an owner of that very amp, what empirical basis those folks have to offer in support of their contention. Other than that it only costs 700 or 800 dollars. I mean, is that it? I ask because if there is a reasonable basis to believe the amp sucks, then I would probably begin a search for a suitable replacement. It certainly sounds good to me, but then again a person who has only drunk beer his whole life can't know what single malt whiskey tastes like. Thank you.