So, have you talked or corresponded with Steve about it, or are you just guessing from what Steve has posted so far, as I am?

Thanks for the info Steve. I'm sure it's going to be a great amplifier!

Well, best of luck and enjoy the wait as much as possible!

Even if it's faster than it's ever been, it will seem way too long. Just sit tight and be as patient as you can!

Good question markv on a headphone option. I am interested.

Anyway, I am glad for tube rectification. I know Steve is not a fan of solid state rectifier diodes. I auditioned the now discontinued EL34 mono blocks and did not like solid state recti'. The aggregate sound of the Amp(s) IMHO is greatly affected to the negative with SS rectification and is cheap to do and sounds cheap (hard). Tube designs with it, sound like solid state to me.

I am excited about the Lucid mode for this design. I use a very adequate Adcom AC Line Enhancer (ACE-515) with my SE84CS....with very noticable improvement....deep black low noise background for the  Selects detail and can't be beat (so far) Transparency.

I mean, the ideal setting should be: Wall mains > Isolation T > Line enhancer/P. cond. > Audio gear.

The isolation T. should give you plenty of surge protection and de-couple your setup from the mains raw AC.  The conditioner/enhancer should fine-tune voltage (120) and frequency (60 cycles), and hopefully both units will work together in shielding RFI (the isolation T. filtering the source AC RFI and the Enhancer/Cond. the local RFI.)

A good isolation T. is easy to build, and should work fine.  I have doubts about the conditioner/enhancer, though.  Unless a similar concept as the one applied by PS Audio, for example, is in place, I'm not sure how the filtering would be effective at actual time of event correction, without allowing transient effects getting through your system, and without interrupting the full power flow profile demanded by your gear at the event's exact time.

PS Audio Plant's design is essentially having a first class, controlled power plant of your own (that's why it works and that's why it is so expensive!)

This means either I evidently don't know enough on the subject, or the enhancers/conditioners only do a partial job, and in many deviation events they probably fail.

Now, I'm not saying this is the way it is, but I need arguments to support picking up a presumably good line enhancing device (there are so many out there ...), that is also affordable (by affordable I mean is a fraction of the cost of what your are trying to protect).

In any event, I welcome your's and anybody else's comments and experiences.  Thanks, stone ...

Geez, this complicates by the minute, LOL.  

That's why I was saying using a conditioner to filter local RFI.  This local RFI may also come from the transformer itself (it was not designed with high-end audio in mind, so it may definitely release some operating buzz.)

In any event, I know the system will sound good plugged to the wall, but then you know it can improve.  Steve underlines the 2:00 a.m. relatively cleaner AC for out of body listening experiences ... Simply put, end sound quality also depends on AC quality.

I just hope I can find a line enhancer that may do the trick ... As for the power cords, these may impart character or signature, but if they are well built, that's tantamount to room reflections or other sound affecting variables we'll never control totally.

I think mains' AC specs inconsistencies (voltage and cycles) and RFI are really sound damaging ... not signatures.  Now I'm afraid I may need shielded power cords to shield the isolation T's own RFI emissions.    Have a nice listening session, Lon