Any "Deadhead" audiophiles out there to help

Dserota...many thanks...please give me some suggestions on a pre pro setup that could not break the bank at $3K or less

You've got more speakers there than I can conceive of!!!!

I assume that you are using your Pioneer 7-ch AV receiver to run some of them, and that you want to continue to do so (zoned music system) - so I wouldn't recommend getting rid of your receiver. Your receiver is essentially a pre/pro with amplifiers built in - though perhaps not the best amplifiers for critical listening. So - I suggest keep your receiver and use it for feeding all those peripheral speakers. Feed the receiver digitally from the Oppo. For critical music listening, either take the analog out from your Oppo or another digital out, and feed it to a 2ch system with a HT passthrough. This could be a good tubed preamp with HTpass feeding to a new amplifier or using 4 channels of your existing B&K (for biamping), or a good integrated. If you take digital out of the Oppo, you'll need a decent DAC as well.

Since your source is purely digital, another option would be to get a DAC/Preamp for your 2ch system with a single set of analog inputs to take music from your Pioneer receiver. You run the Oppo digital into it for 2ch music and the analog into it for HT - just choose a volume setting for analog to set your speaker balance with. Output from the DAC/pre can either go to the B&K amp or a nicer one.

Just some thoughts. Also, if you are used to listening with more than 2 speakers for music, there is no guarantee that you'll like a pure 2ch setup better. In this case, you can be feeding digital to both the 2ch setup and the receiver (controlling the rest of your speakers) and you can manually add in the surround system to supplement the 2ch to get that "concert sound". This is not very conveniant though, as everytime you change volume the balance gets thrown off.

Let us know what you come up with. Best, Peter

Peter:

While it may seem that I have more speakers than one can concieve it actually works fairly well in real good harmony. But I will say that it does seem to lack something on certain tracks but I am sure it is the recordings. I will admit that the 2 channel is probably not my desire as my reciever does give me the opportunity to relieve any sort of musical temptations or coloration. I am sure that this does not fit certain audiophile expectations but the Pioneer does provide this trait. I think that I might venture towards the upgrade of the center channel and subwoofer. I had a good line on a SVS Ultra 13 but decided to pass and get his power amp instead. That has made a great improvement so the quest continues....

Shake...smart move...cc channel is key for surround...as is sub...the sub was paradigms entry level...and nowhere near your other gear imho...Ck out outlaw audio or Hsu for subs...

Does the Oppo play HDCD? If not I would start there since most of the Dead CD's are recorded using HDCD. Also there are tons of soundboard shows available as flac torrents (totally legal). I would second the room treatments...

When in dought, twirl.