"ScottW" said:

Alway appreciate an experience and informed opinion.
Just started thinking about it. Most of the kits I've come across are quite
expensive. I'll keep poking about. Perhaps just getting the PWB, schematic
and parts list is a better way to go.

If your goal is to end up with good gear, IMO it's always best to
follow a step-by-step program.
You recently got Quads, right?
Next step would be the RING DAC (got that ARCAM9 yet?) :-)

Don't worry about amplification, and certainly don't put in extra
links in the chain that only add extra costs and/or problems.

Again IMO, you're not improving anything with a CF (or MF X10D for
that matter) in your system.

--
Sander deWaal
"SOA of a KT88? Sufficient."