It's really good to get input from people with different experiences and preferences. Love it.
@deep_333 Thanks for the extensive Yamaha PEQ guide. I will give the Yamaha another 2 channel chance based on your tips, thanks for the push!
I have found that YPAO hasn't worked out for me though. I always ended up with measuring tape and manual PEQ settings, as you point out too. The other PEQ modes are not very good. Especially the subs needed manual setting as described. The enhancer gave me phase problems with the subs so it's turned off, as well as the other features you mention.
REW room simulator is a good tool, especially to identify the 32 Hz room mode I have. I have a Umik-1 as well but haven't overcome the hurdle to start measuring properly. Also on the todo list!
YPAO is not up to the same level as Dirac as I understand, thus a Marantz AVR was mentioned as a possible upgrade. Haven't heard one in action though...
I will do a shootout with the Eversolo/Purifi amp and the Yamaha with and without Purifi amp and see where that puts me.
The Eversolo is quite nice BTW, especially with the latest update which provided an impressive spectrum analyzer. Reminds me of my first stereo system I got in 1992, the Sony MHC 2600 which also had a spectrum analyzer 😀 Good memories from that one.
@soix I see the point here with the Yamaha AVR not having the best pre amp/ Dacs etc. It's a good allrounder with lots of functionality and is probably ok but not at the level of separates in a higher price range. That's also why I've been looking at a 2 channel path in parallell to the multichannel path.
@erik_squires I've also understood that the Kantas are current hungry despite they quite high sensitivity and need a capable amp to perform.
@larsman @mapman The speakers are indeed broken in and are 3-4 years old. I got them used 15 months ago or so and I have 1000+ playing hours myself on them. Some really loud hours as well, so they should be as soft and mellow as they could be.