Well, here goes.
My system was originally aimed at being vinyl driven but inreasingly I am attempting a balance between vinyl and CD.
Current system;
Vinyl Front End
Michell Orbe with QC
SME V (with balanced cable configuration)
Lyra Argo
Chord Balanced Phono Stage
CD Front End - 19/12/05
Chord DAC64
Theta Basic II CD Transport
Kimber AGDL Balanced Digital Interconnect
Amplification
Sugden Masterclass Pre
Sugden Masterclass Monos
Speakers
Sonus Faber Electa Amator II
Sonus Faber Iron Wood Stands
RA / Kimber Monocole X Speaker Cable
Cables and Other Items
Kimber Silver Streak Interconnects, balanced between phono stage and pre and also between pre and power amps. RCA connections between DAC and pre.
All mains cables are RA Reference Cables apart from cable from wall socket to RA Purifier Block which has the new Signature power cable (a substantial improvement).
My room is 32 X 18 with an interesting roof since I am in the attic of an old Victorian house. I have installed acoustic flooring (I know

, but the house was a £100k refurbishment and the floor was only £900.) I also installed a dedicated mains spur since the house was being re-wiered top to bottom.
Advice?
My CD front end is dated since I also have a Sugden SDD Transport, SDA DAC and Kimber 2020 Digital Cable which was my main CD source until I picked up a Chord DAC 64 recently. The Sugden has a Trichord Clock 4 and never connected power supply. Some work was also done on the capacitators which made the Sugden combination really sing. However, the DAC 64 has given me food for thought.
The THETA was bought due to the realisation that if I sold the Sugden they would have to go as a pair, thus I needed a good transport. I believe that the Sugden and the Theta share the same Phillips mechanism from the mid '90's. (There is a THETA DS Pro Progeny DAC lying around but I believe that I have concluded that both the Sugden and the Chord are better than this DAC

)
I am almost of the opinion that the Theta / Chord is better than the Sugden combo. but will carry on my research until bank balance forces a sale of one or other of the combinations.
Out of interest what would you do?
Any experience of the Sugden combo out there? Is the THETA reliable? Why do some people not like the Chord? I find it to be very good
and anything but harsh.
Your feedback would be appreciated
