...granted, with the amount of $ I would have invested, I could dump the V3, and just go the 7XX route...maybe I will end up doing that...but I want to play with the V3 for now..
I guess this isn't what you want to do now, but if this was one of the options, a 702 is what I'd go for. Sell the V3 for $950 or so, add $800 or so (which is within the $700 to $1000 you said you were looking to invest) and you'd be so very happy with a 702. This is just such a fine piece of equipment.
Bean'll tell you how he likes the 483's directy into his 722
and there's no shortage of samples on the archive to listen to. OTOH, the 702 is gonna give you a little different sound than the V3, so if the V3 is what you're in love with, this of course wouldn't be the best option...although you could do what I'm doing now...now that I've got my dream recorder which also provide a damn high quality set of preamps, I'm saving for my perfect sounding external preamp. That will give me some options in the future.