So, I was just about to pull the trigger on the 1070 and lo and behold, the 970 arrives...now I have four choices:
1. 1070 @ $899.
2. 970/7075 combo @ $1298. This one's really stretching my budget, but tempting.
3. 970/B-stock 7100 @ $1474. What the heck it's less than $200 more than #2.
4. 970/7125 combo @ $1598. Beyond my price range, but I put it here for completeness

Thanks guys!

The 970/B-stock 7100 is an intriguing option if budget permits (assuming the budget doesn't permit the 970/7125). Decisions, decisions...

Don't forget that you will have to purchase cables between the 970 and any amps that you get. There are varying opinions on this. A 7 pack of the 0.5m outlaw cables will cost you another $105, and I would bet that you would need longer cables than that.

The big question back to you is what kind of speakers are you using? How efficient are they? How big is your room? How loud do you like to listen to things?

Regards,

Charlie

John,
If you have a budget constraint, I'd suggest you try the 1070 and see if it drives your speakers the way you'd like. If it doesn't, either send it back and get something else or upgrade to an amp set later on.
Ragnar

Charlie,

I hadn't factored in the cable cost, and yes, 0.5m would be too short.

I have relatively efficient older model 8ohm ARs (95dB front towers, 94dB center and 91dB rear bookshelves(2) + Paradigm PS1000 sub). The room is a finished basement approx. 25'x30'x8'. I typically listen to music at low to moderate volumes but do like to listen to SACD/DVD-A music loud on occasion --- I listen to some older CDs loud but find a lot of the newer one's don't sound very good at loud volumes.

Ragnar,

I think that's just what I'll do

Regards,
John

John:

A stab in the dark here, but out of curiosity, are you by any chance the same John Galt of Chasing Rainbows and Sony HDTV fame?

No, not me. It's not my real name, just borrowed it from Any Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged' novel.