Consider how much you listen to music and whats important to you in sound reproduction. Then think about which turntable /arm/cartridge you will be using. Then examine the room you are listening in.

I'll be using a Project Debut III, stock, and unfortunately we are renting till we buy a new house (just moved to TX not long ago). The room it would be in is a huge 25' x 20' room with 10' vaulted ceiling. Not ideal, but I am fully expecting a smaller room for this equipment to be in at some point. Shoot, the system I have now which is 20+ years old and small speakers puts out plenty of sound for me at this stage in my life. If I want extreme sound I'll break out the Les Paul and 5150 amp and peel the paint!

Really, I'm in the buying stage for everything. This is something I put on hold while the kids were younger and now my wife has given me the OK, within reason. I've heard great things about the Pi speakers and am a DIY junkie on most things I've tried.

Seriously, I have a NAD C-160 preamp and it sounds very nice. NAD makes good equipment and I think you would be very happy with it.

But I also think that once your wife sees the warm glow of a tube amp, that will be the part of the system she likes best. Attractive tube amps have a presence in the room sort of like a fireplace, an almost romantic appeal. What gets you in trouble are the erector set looking amps, those don't generally get the same reaction as a good looking tube amp. But when the chassis is attractive, the warm glow of the tubes make the amp look like art with soft lighting.

I asked her about it after I posted this. She said she really likes the way they look. But, she thinks it's a lot of money to spend on something that she regards as fragile now. I told her once she heard it she might change her mind (she has a tin ear though). I guess my main concern now is getting parts for the amp (such as tranny) if it should break. Was told that it could take anywhere from 1-3 months on major parts. That's where a US made or kit would be good I think. Heck, I don't know what to do now. I'm usually not indecisive at all, but his has thrown me for a loop.

Like I said, maybe the NAD, then add the tube stuff little by little over then next year or two? I can't wait for her to hear these 2 Pi's though.

Transformers rarely fail, and so that's not really all that much of a concern. Some tubes are expensive, but most tube amps under a few grand use tubes that aren't that expensive. UPS can damage transistor amps just as easily as they can damage tube amps. They're usually pretty good, but I've seen 'em knock stuff so hard that metal chassis parts have bent.