I believe there is huge potential for state of art performance via transformer coupling. One CES I worked circa 2003 we employed Audience's heavily modified Denon CDP (universal IIRC, about $4k and they made very little profit for the hours required for that mod) and all Audience IC/speaker wire.
Their above CDP is one of the best digital sources extant, still to this day. I highly doubt any Red Book source would be substantially better. Performance wise you can not critique their IC/speaker cable though it's costly.
I'm an inferior critic of power line conditioners, though others that worked with the Audience brand raved about. Again, it's costly, but seldom if ever is the best low in cost.
I thought the Audience single driver bipolar tower kicked butt at CES.
