An update:
The system is absolutely amazing these days. I still use my Chord Qute EX dac and am targeting a Bricasti some day. But for now the Chord has been stellar and I no longer have any issues interfacing with my HAL MS-2 player.
The creme-De-Le-creme piece for me has been the latest Audio Magic Stealth XXX unit in the smoked plexiglass case. I had my clear unit upgraded by Jerry and it is stellar.
Of course I did mention previously of going to good power cables and then the Silversmith cabling - both of which stunned me and shot me way up in performance.
Now I have started implementing the Nordost Sort Kones. Damn demo last year at Axpona left me shocked and I sat right in the front row again this year and was stunned a second time. I went right downstairs and bought 9 of them. First set went right under the XXX. And yep, sounds outrageous, but they really have a cleansing effect. I still use a Running Springs Duke for the amps, now running through the XXX. It tightens up the bass a skosh.
Anyways, the holographic nature of my system these days is just fantastic. I am now a hi rez download fiend because I cannot get enough. But I have to say that redbook is absolutely stellar as well and I enjoy it equally. Go get yourself some Exoticas!