Silvmoon:
Assuming for the moment that we could reasonably agree on what is full/thin/bright/smooth/thick in terms of sound, I think the culprit may be your speakers. The one constant in both my 2 channel reference and 2 channel HT systems for the last 4 years has been my speakers ... Acoustic Research 302 Classic Speakers (full range; 3 way; 10" woofer). Back in 1995, these were Stereophile Class D speakers that were known for their musicality.
In my reference system, I have gone from an ADCOM 545 Amp/ADCOM 500 II Preamp & Tuner/SONY SCD 555 SACD Player to a Musical Fidelity A3.2 Integrated/SONY SCD 555 SACD Player to a Musical Fidelity CD PRE 24/Musical Fidelity A300 Amp. The system has only become more musical, warm, and notably refined sounding with each change. When I compare my 2 channel HT set-up which is a NAD C320BEE/SONY SCD 555 SACD Player to my reference system, the HT system is still musical and enjoyable, but noticeably less refined and not quite as deep sounding.
I also have a similar home environment ... a coop in Queens with neighbors above and below me that could hear a mouse doing a #1 on cotton. So, when I read of Sean and some others playing their systems to plane take-off volumes, I just laugh ... my volume control just about makes it to 8 o'clock, let alone 11 o'clock.
I have never been a big fan of B&W's ... just OK to me ... not quite right in the treble and not quite defined enough in the bass. But that's me. I also thought that B&W's had the reputation that they needed to be played loud to sound their best. So, maybe the solution is in finding speakers that sound good when played low. EPOS is reportedly one such brand.
The 308 is supposedly the solid state Tri-Vista ... so soundwise you will be seriously upgrading from the A300 ... but the A300 integrated was supposedly warmer sounding than the A3 integrated.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Rich
Assuming for the moment that we could reasonably agree on what is full/thin/bright/smooth/thick in terms of sound, I think the culprit may be your speakers. The one constant in both my 2 channel reference and 2 channel HT systems for the last 4 years has been my speakers ... Acoustic Research 302 Classic Speakers (full range; 3 way; 10" woofer). Back in 1995, these were Stereophile Class D speakers that were known for their musicality.
In my reference system, I have gone from an ADCOM 545 Amp/ADCOM 500 II Preamp & Tuner/SONY SCD 555 SACD Player to a Musical Fidelity A3.2 Integrated/SONY SCD 555 SACD Player to a Musical Fidelity CD PRE 24/Musical Fidelity A300 Amp. The system has only become more musical, warm, and notably refined sounding with each change. When I compare my 2 channel HT set-up which is a NAD C320BEE/SONY SCD 555 SACD Player to my reference system, the HT system is still musical and enjoyable, but noticeably less refined and not quite as deep sounding.
I also have a similar home environment ... a coop in Queens with neighbors above and below me that could hear a mouse doing a #1 on cotton. So, when I read of Sean and some others playing their systems to plane take-off volumes, I just laugh ... my volume control just about makes it to 8 o'clock, let alone 11 o'clock.
I have never been a big fan of B&W's ... just OK to me ... not quite right in the treble and not quite defined enough in the bass. But that's me. I also thought that B&W's had the reputation that they needed to be played loud to sound their best. So, maybe the solution is in finding speakers that sound good when played low. EPOS is reportedly one such brand.
The 308 is supposedly the solid state Tri-Vista ... so soundwise you will be seriously upgrading from the A300 ... but the A300 integrated was supposedly warmer sounding than the A3 integrated.
Hope this helps.
Regards, Rich