[yage]

And agree about Martin Logan array (5 speakers = Quintereo?) -- I found that room unpleasant.

Yeah, I'm inclined to believe it was the Benchmark gear - I've heard the same AHB2 + DAC3 in two different systems - last year's CAF with Benchmark's own monitors and now this one - and came away with the same impression. It's unfortunate too because I really want to like Benchmark gear as their specs, measurements, and technical knowledge seem to be first-rate.