I think the focus, so far, is going heavy on source and weak on everything else. The RP56, DAC1, 9911U and the various tape decks are or were top-drawer source items in their own way. Foremost on my mind is replacing the RP56 (and possibly the DAC1) with perhaps a Denon 3910 that would give me a few extra formats (DVD-A, SACD) to play with and undoubtedly is a better DVD player than the RP56. I use a Sennheiser HD650 headphone so replacing the DAC1 also would mean finding a decent headphone amp... probably a Ray Samuels SR71. What I do not know is how the 3910's analog stage would compare to, say, the Benchmark DAC1.

I'm definitely weak on the receiver and speakers. My hesitation on upgrading is the lack of cost constraints in this area as one pursues the "best." For VCRs and tape decks, it's relatively easy to point to certain models in years past and say, "viola... the best." I can look at the Dragon or CR-7A and feel that way... and neither of these are $10k items. With processors and speakers, however, it's a completely different ballgame, and "how much is enough?" is a tough question to ask.

Finances unlimited (but keeping it reasonable) I'd probably look at a Meridian G68 with a set of DSP5000s all around, but even there I'm reluctant to make that kind of investment on the eve of the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray/HDMI era.

I probably will hold off on receiver + speakers until the end of this year to see how HDMI switching developers in the AV receiver marketplace.