Okay,
My main intent here is to get perspective and there's helpful content here. I know this is a process for me. Heck, took me about four years to get to this point, LOL
MC, you catch what I'm putting down. Trying to understand the walk I'm talking. If I spend now, what to upgrade first and then go to next; what am I going to encounter in the process. I appreciate the technical take on what challenges I'd have for the short term running the X14s through the Raven. Vice versa on a speaker upgrade first.
Tomic, I play music quiet for background and loud to be overwhelmed; lots in between. My musical tastes are wide. Very wide. So a comprehensive sound is key to me. I play music saved on a hard drive as aiff files saved 32 bit/44.1mhz. The P2 has an ortofon Blue cartridge. I rely on the DAC for the generic explorations of my interests through Amazon Music. Buy CDs/vinyl that I want to hear further.
Your brother in-law's setup is an approach I've considered. Not dead either. A decent integrated, a few subs w a dedicated amp, and slowly evolve from there. The impetus for this post is considering the major jump/plunge into the amp/speaker question from where I'm at.
Why Raven? Intuition, research on company integrity and interest, reading insightful intel from coots on these threads, 45 day take back, connection to a decent audio store in town to try out speakers and an interest in settling in.
Both MC and Tomic, your input on the Raven's volume/impact limits for the interim between X14s and other speakers are helpful. My understanding of the wattage/decibel sensitivity correlation is pretty bleak. Hinders my application set.
Still like listening to good sounds though, so...
Jerry, I do plan on other speakers in the endgame. Figuring out how to get where I'm interested in going.