Thanks to all contributing to this thread for a full 4 months! UPDATE - I found a guy on A'gon selling a Rotel RB-1080 who officed less than 3 blocks from my workplace. NoBrainer. The 1080 runs the B&W685 fronts, and the sound for music is MUCH improved. I have experimented a lot with the settings on the Denon AVR, and currently I use the Audessey room correction, adjusted for volume with dynamic EQ, and have the Restorer set to HD. Restorer is meant for mp3 playback, it enhances the low and high end, it give the music more depth and detail IMHO. This setup is better for music than using the Denon's "pure direct" mode. Definitely. Backing the 685s up with the HSU is also an absolute must for me. My old college roommate runs Triangle Alteas with a GAS amp and pre, and he agrees my solution sounds good, even tho I have to use an AVR. He's a bit of a purist, so that was very satisfying to hear.
My last foray into stereo equipment was in 1994, Best Buy Yami gear pushing Bose 2.2s, so you can imagine how happy I am with the new setup. My music has never sounded this good. I realize it can sound better.
My next purchase will either be NICE monitor speakers for the office, or a NICE pre-amp with HT pass-thru for the HT setup. Problem is - can't listen to the HT setup at reference volumes all the time. The office is in the basement...and really don't have room for the pre-amp upstairs...why not turn the office into an anechoic chamber?
Simpotica, I came *this* close to buying an Onkyo, went with the denon because I found a great deal thru 6th ave.
Cerrot I read nothing but horror stories about the NAD receivers' reliability, have you had any issues? I was leaning toward NAD, but there is actually a brick and mortar dealer near me who quit carrying NAD because of all the issues. They were buried in warranty repair.
