Thanks for the interesting replies! Since I got the new AVR, I have been experimenting with multichannel audio via SACD (DSD direct to the receiver), and I basically came to the same conclusion. Unless I spend a lot of money getting all B&W speakers, it's not going to be satisfactory.
Even with Audyssey XT32, the differences among the speakers are still there when listening to music. However for movies, this is another story. XT32 does wonders and I am very happy with my current HT experience.
I decided to try some 2.1 listening with Audyssey engaged to see what it could do with 2-channel, and holy smokes! It is like a blanket was lifted off my system. The bass is amazing (the AVR allows a crossover of 40hz, which is perfect for my speakers, and many other floor-standers, I would imagine). It is tight, controlled, not boomy, fast, and powerful. I was getting some listening fatigue in the mid to upper treble, but that is totally gone now. I can listen for hours on end now with higher, more realistic full-orchestra SPLs with virtually no fatigue.
Anyway, that is how I got from my post over in the HT section to this post. Still looking for a 2-channel amp!
Mark
Even with Audyssey XT32, the differences among the speakers are still there when listening to music. However for movies, this is another story. XT32 does wonders and I am very happy with my current HT experience.
I decided to try some 2.1 listening with Audyssey engaged to see what it could do with 2-channel, and holy smokes! It is like a blanket was lifted off my system. The bass is amazing (the AVR allows a crossover of 40hz, which is perfect for my speakers, and many other floor-standers, I would imagine). It is tight, controlled, not boomy, fast, and powerful. I was getting some listening fatigue in the mid to upper treble, but that is totally gone now. I can listen for hours on end now with higher, more realistic full-orchestra SPLs with virtually no fatigue.
Anyway, that is how I got from my post over in the HT section to this post. Still looking for a 2-channel amp!
Mark