Hey Shawn and all interested parties,

The HD-XA2 arrived safe and sound this afternoon. A handsome and solidly built piece of kit for a mass market company, thats for sure! With the brushed ano aluminum top cover and ribbed sides its rather sleek.

Unfortunately two sets of circumstances have pushed back setting it up for a short while. A weekend hospital stay for a flare-up of pericarditis sick has put me a little behind with the remodel of my media room. To add insult to injury, my local dealer just informed me that the Canadian M distributor dropped the ball (once again) with my 861-ID20 card. A 2 month wait for the "back-ordered" card to discover that it appears the order wasn't placed by the distributor at all! frown This despite numerous calls on my behalf by the great local dealer and an apparently bogus eta date. Called M USA directly this afternoon- Of course the card is in stock, that card is always in stock! A recommended US dealer will be promptly handling the purchase it seems. In any event, I won't be reconfiguring the 861 twice, so install of the modded HD-DVD player awaits the arrival of the new card.

Happy Trails!
Vince@Freewheelcycle.com

2ch: Jay's Audio CDT2 Mk3, PS DirectStream Dac, Oracle Delphi VI/SME V/Benz LP-S, Coincident Statement Linestage, Foundation Research V5 Phono, JL Audio CR-1 xover
M-ch: OppoMod 203, Anthem AVM60, 2x 557
2x or 5x ATC SCM20ASL mk2, 4x SCM12i, 4x Seaton Submersive HP, AM2.0 sub EQ
Video: JVC X990, Isco 3L A-lens/sled, 105" motorized 2.37:1 AT screen