nkonor,
I appreciate your being my audiophile conscience :-)
I certainly know what you mean about hearing something off with a set up, knowing that I would have sold the system that didn't have such faults.
On the other hand, I also have other things to balance - room aesthetics and ergonomics, which provide constant, strong motivation to replace the 3.7s. I put a ridiculous amount of money and energy - 2 years - into the design and reno of that room so that it could accommodate both the new home theater system and 2 channel listening, in a way in which every element is ergonomically and aesthetically "perfect" for my goals.
It's only when I introduced the big Thiels to the room that it was thrown off kilter. Originally I bought them with the plan that I'd move them in and out of the room, as I used to go through "2 channel listening phases" and "home theater phases."
I've tried everything, making wheeled platforms, adding wheels to the speakers, using a dolly, adding sliding feet. Nothing truly makes them easy to get in and out of the room. And I've realized I listen to 2 channel so often that the only route that makes sense is to have permanent 2 channel speakers in there that stay, and which also look right.
The 2.7s, in size and finish, suit that goal pretty much perfectly. When I look at the room with the 2.7s I swoon at how nice it looks. When the 3.7s are in there it's always a bit of a drop in my heart because they impede on the balance I sought so hard to construct.
So, yes if I get rid of the 3.7s I will no doubt miss them on various pieces of music, or hear something in the 2.7s that were more perfect on the 3.7s. On the other hand, I have to weigh that against the even more constant visual/ergonomic frustration in keeping the 3.7s. Such is life...
