Looking forward to your impressions SA5K vs The Good stuff 
Warp, what would you suggest to do first regarding Qualias, to get the best of them:
a) change cables;
b) look for a new amp;
c) else ?
PS As always you pics are just awesome !!!
Yes, he was listening to them using both my Apache and my souped up Cary SLI80 Signature tube amp. It's a jaw-drapping difference, especially from the Cary. Classical or new-age music never sounded so good, as it does on the Qualias. I would imagine it would be even better with the newer TWag V2 cable.
I have actually acquired an SA5K as well and it's in being hardwired with V2 in balanced mode. Looking forward receiving it back soon.
Because the factory cable of the Qualia is so bad, based on my experience, I would eliminate that bottleneck first. Why? Because then you'll be able to take your prized Qualias and find the perfect amp for your particular tastes. If you asked me about the Edition 10 in a similar scenario, I would say the opposite, because that cable--although it's nowhere near as good as the TWag--at least performs decently enough in an audition.
Needless to say, everything is important in the end, so your whole system should be looked at holistically, but budget usually allows for one thing at a time. And the Qualias are relatively easy to amplify and not as picky as the Edition 10s or the HD800s. But when you hook them up to a high-end system TWagged, it's an amazing experience.
