Hello LL21,
We certainly share much in common. While I lived in the U.S. (7 years in NYC and 2 near Chicago), it was much easier to test new components in my system. Now living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, it is difficult and usually takes a long time to properly test new equipment.
As you can see, I listened to many of these components this year in Munich, but it is difficult to understand each component's impact in a system's sound when the room and other components are different from yours. So I may end up buying some of these components just based on the feedback of end users that I trust, that at some point did a direct comparison in their system with the component that I have.
I am now focusing on improving my room treatment, with dedicated resonators for major room modes and improving the use of diffusion. I have seen this make a major impact in some of my friend's audio room/system's sound when properly done.
Next step may be upgrading the turntable or DAC. After these two upgrades, or in parallel, perhaps an Entrec Silver Tellus and ground cables.
I hope I will be able to hear the Arrakis at the Rockport factory at some point. I sent an email to Andy Payor, but no response yet. I also would like to listen to it in other top systems during 2016/2017, to be able to understand what it is able to deliver.
Regarding the Gryphon Mephisto, it is possible that a friend here in Sao Paulo will buy one, so maybe I will be able to bring it to my system to listen.
I am very happy with the sound of my Krell Phantom/Krell FPB750mcx (re-capped) combination, with dedicated power lines, good cables, RSA bases, etc. so regarding the Boulder preamp and amps, I may just wait for some used units to show up for sale a few years from now and maybe try one and sell if I don't like.
Regarding the Echole Omnia, I already have several Echole Obsession cables, so I plan to over time, given priorities for upgrades, and as they rarely show up in the used market, try Echole Omnia cables in specific places of my system.
Cheers,
VPN