Yet another update and things keep on unraveling,
The combination of CA and Usher seemed poor, all the while I was playing music from my Dell laptop as the source, and a Fiio E07K as the DAC. At one point the speakers started making a noise like zzzzzz.....and for the lack of better word it seemed low frequencies were getting 'split', it was a weird sound that you get from very low quality Rs 500 amplifiers and similar crap speakers. I was scared to my life. I bought the amplifier used and so mortified that there was something wrong with it.
I switched from speaker A to B.
I switched inputs on the amplifier.
I switched power cords / sockets.
Still the dreadful noise would not go away. I plugged in the Dali Zensors, same occurrence.
Keeping everything same (laptop, Fiio DAC, cables, speakers), I used the Sonodyne amplifier instead of CA, and everything was alright. Music was as it should be, beautiful, warm and balanced, definitely lacked the refinement of CA but there was no unwanted noise or disturbance.
Conclusion: I have been sold a faulty device in the garb of trust that we have here for forum members, I was crestfallen to be honest.
Then I decided to give one last go, I played music now through my HTC to the CA, and wow! There is no noise, beautiful punchy, rhythmic sound from speakers, just beautiful. I checked, double checked with different inputs, speakers A and B, it just played amazing. Relief, CA is alright and even more comfort in the fact that it was an honest transaction after all through HFV.
To dispel the last little residue of doubt I played with my iPod, great music, nothing is wrong at all. Plug in the Fiio and play from laptop, it all goes awry.
So the Fiio is the culprit, but the same Fiio does wonderfully with Sonodyne and Ushers.
Where do I go from here? Since PC is my source I do need a DAC.
Most importantly I am just relieved that my CA is alright and does play nice with the Ushers, I had to tweak the tone controls a little but it does sound nice, perhaps not as silky smooth as the Marantz but I am happy.
Why would the Fiio behave so oddly with CA and then be perfectly alright with Sonodyne? Anyone has answers?