yyzsantabarbara, perhaps we can assist you in your endevor
We have the entire Reference line, we have the One Monitors, we have the Three and Five Floorstanders and we have the Blade 1.
So perhaps that trip to NYC that you were putting off might just be due, heck the tax savings alone would make it worth it, just saying.
As per Bo, what planet are you from? The best audio systems we have ever experienced in 30 years of professional audio design are system which are experimented combinations of cables, power conditioning, amplifiers, preamplifiers, loudspeakers, source components and room tuning.
If you notice the market usually finds setups that work synergistically together, such as the famous 2C3D Avalon/Spectral/Mit setups of the 90.s or the current pairing of Wilson and Dagastino.
The normal world order in audio is:
1: Select the speaker that works for you size, visual look, amount of bass, clarity, soundstage
2: Select the electronics which work to bring out the speakers
3: Find the source components which work with the electronics and speakers
4: Find the cables that work.
5: Install, setup and tune the room add power conditioning, and accessories to focus and bring out the best attributes of the system.
If you are insisting your method is not trial and error, how did you come up with the pairing of Pass and Monitor? Pass doesn't make loudspeakers really, and Monitor doesn't make electronics so someone, you, had to try this pairing and you proclaimed it to be good.
Personally we would think this to be a terrible combination, the Monitors tend to be very warm and so is the Pass gear, so you should get mud.
Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ