I was the idiot waiting for more companies to take the strides like empeg and make hifi mp3 players. My optimistism caused me to strain finnancially to recover a new player & tuner, YET! I still paid LESS than what this damn thing retailed for 808 '4' the player 420 '4' the tuner = $1228 is alot less than 1699 and that doesn't include the tuner in the original price. This may be the end of the era for MP3 fidelity but technology and media constantly change and a new revolution is ALREADY on the rise. DVD Audio WILL replace the CD (at least it will for the audiophile, later the consumer will reap its rewards.) The ONLY media to date that competes with that of the studios reel 2 reel high fidelity recording system, a true test of todays speakers standards and harmonic reproduction.