Thanks everyone.
We all enjoy listening to new music - preferably as a high quality recording as the new (digital) technology promises. Unfortunately this is not happening widely. All my SACD purchases (as CD replay only) sound great. DVD_Audio quality - crap to OK. Vinyl gives something digital can't manage so far (via a Thorens 2030). So I'm thinking the only way I'm going to enjoy high-quality new recordings is going to be via SACD.
The Marantz 8400 SACD looks interesting - add in a valve preamp, and the G91 into the valve preamp in transport mode might just be the answer ?!

I've tried running the G91 into some transistor preamps but the sound quality was much the same.

thanks again people!