100dB

Check out Outlaw Audio's slim, stackable monoblocks. I have an older receiver from Outlaw - good gear at a fair price. Only available from their website.

Apple Lossless is a great codec, and with a 160GB iPod classic & iTunes, should make a great little system. I've archived all my music to DVD and the iPod and its perfect. I've checked the digital output from the iPod (using the Wadia DAC) against my original masters, and they're bit-perfect. If you use TuneUp, you can ensure you have all the cover art and correct track info too! What an amazing modern age we live in. All of one's music, and the device that plays it, in the palm of your hand. Tubes? Vinyl? High end DAC? Got 'em. I'm still amazed at the little gizmos of our world.

Caveat: I've not listened to Klipsch IEMs. Next time you are able to watch the band U2, you'll notice Edge (the guitarist) using Etymotic Research ER4 series IEMs. I use ER4Ss for monitoring live recordings (no bass, but the clearest highs anywhere), and ER4Ps for recreational listening. With the foam tips, the bass and outside noise isolation is quite good, though depth of insertion is key. I have Sennheisers (and others) as well, and overall prefer their sound to any IEMs. IEMs have a place and purpose, but to quote Ron Streicher, "Everything in audio is a tradeoff - everything." Disclaimer: I'm an audiologist and use Etyomitic products in my practice. Mead Killion is a genius - nothing leaves Etymotic without a lot of great R&D. I hope you can find what you"re looking for. Cheers!

As a mastering engineer, my last project was a metal band out of Denver. Not usually my thing, but I studied up by watching the documentary, "Metal" - wow! There's a lot to the genre. I saturated lots of tape and tubes, and had a happy customer. Anyway, I don't monitor using Klipsch in my reference system, as I sit rather close. When finished with any project however, I listen to it in my car (stock audio system), then let it run wild upstairs on a Heresy III/Paradigm 18in. servo sub/Outlaw 1050 rcvr system. The Outlaw is no longer made, but is representative of a "typical" , modest HT receiver these days. With care setting up the sub, the HIII's will be killer! And here's a tip for you recordists out there: if you add any reverb or effects, add just over 40msec of pre-delay. It will trigger your ProLogic circuit and give you some nice surround. Have fun!

McIntosh. Solid. Stable. Musical. Accurate. Timeless. You'll forget the gear and listen to your music - that's what these "train sets" are all about, IMO. Have a good time regardless! ~D

Hey all - a couple of pieces that might interest you - they sound good to me: 1) Peachtree Nova integrated amp. It has a great DAC, a USB input, a tube pre, and 80 wpc. I use the pre outs into an old McIntosh MC 2120. Can't wait to hear this with the Heresy IIIs that are coming next Tuesday. 2) HagUSB. Plug your computer into this match box sized thing, and an spdif digital out is on the other end waiting to be interfaced to the digital input on... whatever you have with a digital input - magic! Handmade in Hawaii. Jim H. makes other cool stuff too. BTW, I'm not associated with these companies, just passing along tasty bits. :-)

Anthem produces quality gear. The Paradigm Active Reference 20s were my nearfield monitors in my studio for many years, and their "innards" were all Anthem (Paradigm's sister company). I should think you'd enjoy the Anthem gear. BTW, this my first post of any kind here, and I look forward to getting to know you all!