Scaling down

my experience w/ a small(er) system is different & more positive that yours: my bedroom system costs <$2K total & I use it very, very often playing my iPod, FM radio, Pandora & some CDs thru it. I listen for hours on end with a great deal of satisfaction. It does not sound like my reference system but, nonetheless, it's very enjoyable.

Not having a really big system, I'd have to say I could be happy if I did some careful and considerate shopping. There were some great sounding, smaller systems at the Newport Audio Show but they weren't cheap.

It would all depend on the size you're re referring to.

All the best,
Nonoise

my take on this is that having just one system doesn't work for me. so i have 4 systems of varying costs and applications. all are very enjoyeable.

I guess I should have given more of an explanation. I do have three systems if you include the garage one, but the main system in the living room takes up allot of space and we do a fair bit of entertaining. So a more unobtrusive system would better. Moving the turntable, records cleaning machine, etc, etc to the lake spot helped quite a bit but there is still a ton of stuff, 1400 pounds actually.