Hey Chris,
I have bought quite alot of CA kit over the last 5 years or so, and I agree about reliability problems.
I've had:
2 540D dvd players:
first was DOA, the second had BAD colour problems and really gritty picture quality.
Got a refund, bought a Sony upscaling player instead - quality.
2 640C CD players (V1's)
first blew a channel after 8 weeks, the second dead on both chanels after 8 months.
Got a V2 for my troubles (thanks Richers) and it worked fine.
Until I sold it when I got into Music server/Dac replay.
I'm still running a CA 640a amplifier but its now developed an intermitant "dry joint" problem on one channel.
Makes you wonder.....huh?
No more CA kit for me (well, maybe an 840a if it trumps a Nait 5i that is)
AC POWER
Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
AMPS
Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
SPEAKERS
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
DAC
PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
TURNTABLE
Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
PHONOSTAGE
Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
DIGITAL
OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
MUSIC PLAYBACK
Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
Ipad Roon Remote.
Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
SPEAKER CABLES
Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
INTERCONNECTS
All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables