Yes, you pretty much have to buy w/o audition these days -- so it's a price, features, intuition thing. Did this w/M and was very happy, but is there any other product out there where you spend 10K+ so blindly?

Thanks for the opin. on Theta -- great to know you think it's on the 861 level. It's cheaper for me to go that route.

I'm sold out of Meridian at the moment, 598/G68 (and the 568.2mm before it) all gone so it's a clean slate; no MHR. Speakers have always been analog.

Considerations:

I like Trifield, am well setup for it, but my experience is as noted above; I used it less and less over time -- better for some recordings, worse for others. A definite consideration, but probably not a deal breaker. MRC was useful, but very subtle in my old, somewhat treated room. New room has better sound treatment -- I'd expect it to be less of a factor and my sub (JL f113) has some correction, though not as flexible, built-in.

If I go Theta, it would be the Extreme DAC for the fronts, center, and sub, Premium DAC for all surrounds. I've heard mixed things whether the Extreme is comparable to an excellent standalone DAC for music -- for any of these processors I have my Audio Aero to compare. Would be nice to get it all though in one simple box. The Theta and G68/861 are different though roughly comparable in the setup/control parameters they offer.

I want to get back to vinyl down the road which necessitates a separate preamp w/M (digitized analog inputs). The Theta Six Shooter, though more than I need channel-wise is by all accounts a great SS analog preamp, and integrates effortlessly w/the CBIII. At 2K before discount, given its reputed performance (again, can't really audition), it's a good deal w/better ergonomics vs. a separate preamp. Not much detail on how Theta is going to handle HDMI w/the announced upgrade -- separate off the audio to deal w/jitter as M is doing?, etc. -- but probably safe to trust a company like Theta on this.

The Classe SSP 800 also has some appeal. Used to own a Proceed AVP; a great processor in its day with excellent 2 channel performance and the smartest ergonomics (albeit w/fewer setup/ control options than the G68, for ex.) of any processor I've owned before or since. The 800 is largely by the same design team as the AVP. Claimed to have first-rate music performance and an excellent analog preamp section. A Classe amp I heard some years ago had clearly rolled off highs to sound 'warmer' and less fatiguing; I was not impressed but this is flimsy as a reason to buy or not buy the 800.

Back to M -- I thought the G68 was excellent for movies and love the control Meridian gives to tailor the sound. Though good, it didn't match my AA DAC for music, but this is to be expected given that the AA costs half as much as the G. If I went down this road again and got vinyl as planned, I'd probably find a good used tube preamp. Was looking at an Aestethix Callipso at one time, about 2.7K used. With or w/o the preamp but including the HDMI box (whenever), this would be my most expensive option; the 861 much more so.

Small thing, but nice is OSD. Have it w/the Onkyo, had it w/the Proceed AVP, Lexicon MC12 in the past. Very handy to see db levels on screen for channel trimming, etc. M no, Classe yes, Theta maybe.

Anyway, choices are starting to present themselves as the situation clears a bit. Have to move on the Theta by the end of the month for the great pricing.

Don't let anyone kid you btw, the greater resolution of the new formats really pays off.