am I nuts?

Stop. Your amp's not your problem. It may not be great shakes, but if your 2.5s aren't right for your room, *that's* your problem, or at least it's the one you have to come to grips with first. So my first suggestion is, try your 1.3s up front in 2-channel mode and see if they're an improvement. If not, buying a better amp isn't going to solve your problem.

Basic rule: speaker-room interaction trumps everything.

thanks for your responses so far, guys... very amusing responses...(so I'm not the only psycho here apparently...)

in terms of cables, i use audioquest type 4 speaker cable for my mains in a bi wired configuration. I suspect this is part of the problem as i understand they are bright cables that have the ability to make an already bright system sound edgy. Still, I feel better electronics are in order. The Nak as an av receiver is ok for HT, but two channel is just irritating.

I'm looking into a Unico (80 w/ ch integrated, hybrid), but I'm not sure that's enough to run the mains (which stil, might be sold, in which case, the Unico would certainly be sufficient for the 1.3's). I'm also considering a Moon I-5 or I-3, Cairn (used model, can't remember which but it's 70/ch), Musical Fidelity A3.2 cr (i think that's the integrated model), Primare gear (not sure which), Classe CAP 101 or 151 and Plinius (not sure which model - but would have to be purchased unheard b/c there are no dealers in my area)...

Can anyone recommend what would work well with these speakers (either the 2.5i or the 1.3a - NHT's in general)?

What about cables? Any suggestions? Looking for something more full-bodied.

PS. Sorry about the poorly worded posting here... brain's working faster than my fingers can type.

:P

Steve
Roksan Kandy II,

Perhaps you should check into the "Audio Asylum"?

Loose...I had almost the exact system a few years ago. Nak AV10 with NHT 2.5i's for mains, Super Ones for rear, and Mirage center and M&K sub. I found myself listening more to two channel music than the surround. Anyway, I agree with Zspradlin. Cables can make a substantial difference in the sound your getting. NHT 2.5i's are on the bright side, so finding cables (IC's and speaker) to warm the sound up may be a good option for you. What cables are you using?

Your sanity is not any more questionable than the rest of the audiophiles around here! This is just a typical obsessive-compulsive situation in which we all seem to find ourselves.

have you considered cable upgrades? A good friend of mine uses a Denon AVR-3300 for both 2 channel and his HT. It sounds pretty good for an A/V reciever. I would start, if you haven't already, by upgrading the speaker cables on your mains. I would recommend starting with Tara Labs RSC Reference cables, they sound very nice and can be picked up fairly reasonable used. Also, don't forget your power cables, those make a difference as well.

Loose...I just came through the other end of the tunnel you're going into. Sold my Lexicon for a Sonic Frontier Line 1, and sold my 4 marantz mono blocks in a biamp config for Anthem Amp 2 and now my CC and rear speakers are sitting in a box. I couldn't be happier. I'm still impressed by my gear with dvds. My system really has a good soundstage and so I still get 'surround' effects. Plan on buying a nice reciever some day and use the HT pass through on the line 1. Then I'll have more of what I like, 100% music and movies for fun.