Welly, get a Melos SHA-Gold for around $800 used and get it Maestrobated w/ linestage upgrades. Use it as a headamp and also as a preamp for a 2-channel system.

Yidimsum:

Mr. Samuels is sending his Emmeline HR-2 next week. I eliminated the Melos hybrid amplifiers because they are a bit prone to reliability issues (so I gather from reading up on them awhile back). Thanks for the suggestion. How is your 802.11x Wi-Fi network? Make sure that you are completely up to date with firmware / software patches. Try to enable MAC address filtering & WEP encryption (128bit) at a minimum to secure your network; learn how to set up a virtual private network to add critical security that the 802.11 A/B/G does not inherently provide based upon its architecture. Also, make sure you have a software firewall & anti-virus program installed as well.

Welly Wu,

Any particular reason you've eliminated the Meyer Prehead? I had the chance to audition it at a Head-fi meet and found it to be as good as, if not preferable to the Max with stepped attenuators (and as good as the Cosmic Reference with base station is, the Max is a step up sonically). It has a lovely midrange, is very detailed without being too bright, and has an overall natural sound, at least paired with the equipment I heard it on--HD600/Cardas and Grado HP-1.

In fact, I think I actually preferred it to the Max, particularly for the midrange.

I did not eliminate it. I just am not thinking about it too much right now. That's how I survive financially with my secret disease -- chronic Head-Fi upgrade-itis!

Well,

If you want to eliminate the chronic upgrade-itis, why not just cut to the chase and go for the Omega II? That's what I did

NO! At least, not yet...