is there something in the IASCA rules that says you're NOT allowed to digitally post-process the signal?

That's the heart of the matter, Rob. All IASCA wants is a level playing field as far as the original music source. What your equipment does with it after that is what the whole idea of competition is all about.

If my stereo can process the identical source better than your stereo, then I have the better stereo and I win.

All we have to do is prove that the file within the empeg is identical to the file on the original CD. I think that precludes playing anything but .wav files. So how do you compare a .wav file in the empeg to a .wav file on the original CD and verify that they are identical?

tanstaafl.

"There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch"