Duntec,
If you are not willing to spend $8000 more on a G68/G98 why do you not stay with your current combination ?
I do not read you are not satisfied with it. Do you fear this is a one time offer and in 1 or 2 years the price for your 598/568.2 has dropped very much ? (there must be a reason why you consider a other brand)

I know little of most of the other brands in the list you name. From what i have read about them, most in the list are not hardware upgradable. It also depends what you mean by hardware upgradablility.
For exapmle Lexicon had very good trade in policiy (do they still ?) But this is not really upgrdability.. The MC12 seems expandable with more DSP cards. But also new inputs ?
A card based unit would give you hardware upgradability.
A Theata Casablanca has Cards, a bit like a 861. But it will costs you more than $8000 i fear.
A Rotel 1098 seems to have cards as well.

I think it is hard to look into the future, but you might want to know if new inputs like HDMI with audio / 1394 can be upgraded if one of them becomes the standard.

Further to me it seems logically there will be a 3rd dimension in the sound. So height channel(s). This would mean that the hardware architecture must be ready to go above 8 channels.

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MLP Link (MHR or 1394 or something)
Since there is not a real standard yet for Multichannel high resolution audio so most likely what you buy now is outdated tomorrow in that area.

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A Mfg that doesnt use other peoples products
This will shorten your list considerably i think.. (there seems to be pioneer technology hidden in most of the DVD players the listed brands produce)

Is it perhaps an idea to sell only the 568.2 and keep the 598 for the time being ? You could still go digital into the G68 from the 598. Must be cheaper than buying both new.

Good luck with your decission.
Jaco

[This message has been edited by jaco (edited 12-22-2003).]

Sold all M equipment