Well... the point is not which format is better, but rather in which format my favourite artist of the moment is recorded on best. At this level of investment in audio equipment I would like to be able to enjoy high quality recordings from both camps in their own native formats. Converting from one format to the other at the user end sounds to me suspicious at best.

Now I don't mind having duplicate sources. Beyond that, as a would-be Meridian customer I could see three options in front of me; a) get DSP speakers for CD and DVD-A and another set of Preamp/Amps/speakers for SACD, b) get DSP speakers and wait for a solution to convert SACD to MHR/PCM which could be a non-event, unsatisfactory after all, or just too expensive, or c) forget about DSP speakers, route my processed PCM and DSD signals through an analog preamp and stay in the analog domain thereafter.

The last option appears to be the most reasonable. However, I am open for suggestions. I would appreciate it if anyone out there could recommend for me a complete two channel solution that is a) buildable within the next 6 months, b) allow playing SACD and 192kHz DVD-A in their native formats, and c) costs $20,000 to $30,000 with cables, power conditioning and all.

The system will be placed within a large multi-purpose hall that has a roughly trianglar shape with dimensions of 50' by 35' and a 10' ceiling and several open doorways. The expected speakers-listner distance is 15'.

Interestingly, the only high-end dealer available in Kuwait is a Meridian dealer who's a friend of mine. I have to travel for auditiong anything else (unlikely) or rely solely on published reviews and your kind recommendations.