Well as of yesterday Feb 3 Audioholics announced Emotiva's new XMC-1 pre/pro. Check out the site and the short intro by them. This is not a full review. Emotiva wants $1499 for this unit. I am not sure I am willing to pay that kind of money for an EMO. If that is the case I would be willing to first go with the 978 provided the price is respectable, then the Marantz 7005. One or the other but nothing else. With EMO's track record of early adoptor problems I would be skeptical.
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"There is one who comes after me who's sandals I am unworthy to unloose." John the Baptist