If you are in the US then there are some great alternatives (and more cost-effective) amplifiers and (especially) speakers than the British ones you mentioned

I have a 596 as well as a Wadia 860x. Yes the Wadia is better for CD playback but it is 3 times the price and it does not play DVD's. For a dedciated mucic listening room (if I actually havr the time to use one) I would have the Wadia but for a general purpose living room I would definitely have the 596 (and save some money).