As one of the early contributors to this discussion about that the 997 should have that it doesn't / has that it shouldn't, I will ask one question about phono inputs: Can well-reproduced CDs surpass, or even completely equal, well-reproduced LPs? I'm referring only to audio quality and realize cost is a decisive factor as always, so let's put in a cost ceiling of $1000 for turntable, arm, cartridge, and preamp on the LP side vs. player and DAC on the CD side. The fact that the platform the 997 is based on has abandoned phono reproduction implies to me that musical quality is no longer very high in manufacturers' priority lists, and that deeply saddens me.