YES - Thank you for this particular reply - because you clearly define the dilemma and obviously "get" what I am coming from. I suppose I should just peel a few bucks form my wad and try a headphone amp and see for myself. I appreciate I am not alone with my dilemma. Money is no object, as I am a retired professional something or other, but I hate wasting money on stuff that does not get the click because that erodes and depletes my equipment fund and, especially, my good bourbon fund.
If I spring for a headphone amp ... any reason I should avoid the JDS Labs Objective2 or Atom +, or possibly the SMSL SH-6, or maybe Shiit Magni1 ? These seem to be fairly well accepted entry level units that provide relatively high performance at a relatively low cost. Are there any other units I should consider as a proper starting point?
Sidebar Footnote -- I fully appreciate and do not dispute your point about restoring my older amp. I have had it checked and verified by a local shop, and I am a serious amateur radio operator who enjoys building gear from scratch, so I continually monitor its status. Parenthetically, I have published a couple published a couple audio and antenna circuit designs in trade magazines and a couple of my antenna ideas were adopted by a German antenna manufacturer. Without being contradictory, you can rest assured I take your point seriously. And, I continuously compare it to several newer, more modern receivers I also own, and it does keep up ... at least so far, anyway! But you are correct - 'dem caps could leak and pop at any time!
Thanks for the uptake - that latest missive puts us on the same page. Unfortunately, ... as you say ... it depends. So maybe I will just try one and know for myself. Happy trails to you. TTmaven