Best System for Pink Floyd

I don't think I could better what I have for Pink Floyd.

if you think PF is a good audio challenge, try the albums "Lighthouse Sun", "Deadwing" or "Fear Of a Blank Planet" by Porcupine Tree.

If the system is able to deliver the goods on most any classical or modern "loudness wars" recordings, including Hip Hop, metal and the likes, then I think it will handle most anything else with aplomb.

The finest reproduction I have ever experienced of that recording was at Phillips Crest National Studios in Hollywood--one of the largest producers of SACD's world wide. They had an amazing, enormous custom room built in with all the acoustic goodies one could want, including a door bigger and heavier than most bank vaults. The system was 5.1 of Eggleston Andras w/ sub, Halcro DM68 mono's on all and Mietner digital from end.

Never before or since have I heard SACD replayed the way it was obviously intended --near perfection. Literally, you could hear and feel helicopters flying overhead, voice and sound coming from specific points all around you and on the track Time, and almost shocking realism with the bells, bass and chimes all separated and in their own space. Then they played Gabriel's UP SACD and I almost fell off the chair, hearing information and scale literally missing from any other system I have heard that using SACD--including some huge systems. I'd give a lot of props to their great room and the meticulous set up.

In terms of experiences with SACD on a 5.1--that stands alone. In terms of more modest home listening I think any system with good balance and near full range capability can do DSOTM a lot of justice. To hear the 5.1 the way Guthrie and the band intended, find a killer surround set up.

As a long time fan of the "Floydsters" I have listened to them on many systems and always enjoyed it. Before I delve in to the dream system you suggest I would own for FLoyd music only, I must add the Maoman is right on que with the refernce to Porcupine Tree. I discovered them a few years back and I feel that PT picks up where PF leaves off. A continueum of the Floyd sound.
SO if I could afford it I would go with:
Wilson Sashas
McIntosh MC1201's
Audio Research REF5
Ayre C5xe-mp for CD/SACD
Linn LP12 with Ekos SE-Keel-Radikal and Urika
Lyra Olympos Cart
Cardas Clear IC's and Speaker Cable
That is about it, I know there is more expensive and better sound gear but these are components I have heard.
Oh and a fresh copy of Momentary Lapse of Reason to warm it all up.

I don't know if it's "the best" system for PF, but I heard the Burmester setup (cdp, amps, speakers) playing The Wall at CES 2009, and it was stunning.

Some ancient history.

When it first came out, "The Wall" was one of my most successful demo disks back in 1978 in selling equipment to fellow college students when I used to do such things.

We sold JBL, Advent, Infinity, EPI, Electrovoice, KLH (back when they we decent) and other brands. It always sounded best on OHMs, in particular OHM Hs. Those were too big for my dorm room so I settled personally for the OHM Ls that I still run, though I've always coveted OHM Hs and a bit later also OHM Is. All others had various shortcomings IMHO, although the better large JBLs may have had perhaps teh "warmest" sounding presentation.

BTW, one might be able to pick up newly refurbished versions off any of these old classic OHM models via OHM still. They still sell them refurbished and retrofitted with the latest 21st century drivers and technology when available.

I don't know of ANY speaker I have heard for $600 a pair that can beat my OHM Ls playing PF or PT in particular these days, especially anything that works well close to teh rear wall. I could probably still live comfortably with these as my main speakers today. They cost $500 a pair new back in 1978.

There was a point about 2 years ago as I was in the process of updating most of my system that the PT album "FOABP" ONLY sounded good to me on the OHM Ls in my big listening room where the OHM 5s reside today. This album was in particular one of the hardest I found to get to sound right, but once it does, like most PT stuff, BINGO!!!