Anyone Totally Content With Their System?

Two Channel: Totally content with system. In all honesty, my speakers/sub are more than I have the right to ask for in a roughly 28 foot by 18 (partly 24) foot room, domestic setting. Many pros wish they could afford this kind of setup for daily use at work. Fortunately, I don't need a console and a bunch of other costly mix gear for playback - so I can afford to put the bulk of the investment into the speakers and room setup.

I plan to make some further room acoustic treatments to treat long reverberation times in the sub 300 Hz range and then I'm completely done for two channel....yup I can die happy!

I plan eventually go full 5.1, and I seriously doubt I'll go further than that (6 or 7.1).

5.1: Currently missing a center channel. Philosophy is same as two channel: must be high quality timbre matched speakers (otherwise I see no point in 5.1 at all, after all, who wants cheap sound from five directions, I'd rather have the best sound I can afford from two directions first, then work up from there!). Since my 36" HD TV is CRT, I'll have to replace that first and install LCD/plasma before putting more than 22 pounds of driver magnets anywhere near it.... a rather big and costly step, which will take time, as there is no urgency.

it is hard to be content with a stereo system when live music is so much more satisfying. after attending a recital of acoustic performances, i have no interest in listening to any stereo system for a while.

not my experience at all. I often go to a live performance and I am frustrated with both the audio and the quality of the musicians playing...a great live performance is rare local occurence compared to the quality of what you can find at the music store.

Shadorne, are you talking about live ACOUSTIC performances like Mrtennis?

Absolutely, the real live symphony orchestra, opera, ballet, quartets and such. I will be the first to admit that the visual and spatial cues of real music in a real live venue are more REAL than from a stereo system but real does not for me equal better enjoyment if good seats, great acoustics and great musicianship are all too rare and performances are very expensive. A $20 CD makes me very content with my system and I think it is a great bargain compared to the mixed bag that I get live....not only can you get better quality sound but you get to pick the best performances from the best artists and bring them home. Furthermore you can hear more detail with repeated playings....something that you only get to do live if you actually are a musician yourself.

If I lived in Boston or Chicago then I admit that I might feel a bit differently. Perhaps I am too jaded by the quality of performances widely available on CD compared to the local symphony orchestra - perhaps it isn't fair on these local artists that they have to compete with World's best on a $20 CD...but that is the way it is.

Good to see more happy people. I have to admit I enjoyed my time with all the components I have had over the years. I know that owners of very high end systems will slam me for saying this but major improvements are elusive, above about $2K on any component... I think diminishing returns kicks in pretty hard. Yes ultra expensive stuff does sound better....but for 100% more cost you tend to eek out only 5-10% more performance out of it.