This is a very good thread. Thanks for your efforts, Drew, and others!
I am fortunate and happy to have my primary two-channel system separate from the TV room, or home theater downstairs. For me, that is a must. I really like seeing the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide directly behind my loudspeakers through my living/listening room windows. Having a theater in that room would be tough/inappropriate.
As for Class D amplification I think you are looking in the right direction. For two channel I've used tubes (rarely), but Class AB mostly up until I picked us a W4S STI-1000 integrated (claimed 560/1120w). You cannot hear anything out of the speaker when the system is on with no music input. The pre-amp and amp sections are stone-dead quiet, and clean and precise, with bass authority as well.
I run the STI-1000 with a pair of (used-to-me) Raidho D2 small floorstanders. Unless I had a lot more money these are my 'holy grail' of musical reproduction speakers for two channel. Scratch home theater for these; loudest peaks are only to the mid 90s, but plenty for me for musical listening, and they reproduce tight bass flat to almost 30Hz within limits.
(If I need it louder I'll high-pass D2s and add a sealed sub. I'll also mention that the STI-1000 may be considered neutral to lean, but it pairs very well with the Raidhos as they are more warm than lean; I've tried other power amps but keep going back to the the STI-1000's power section as well as the preamp, looping in the DSP unit.)
I feel room correction for bass response is a must if you ever want to hear how nice your speakers can sound (I still do not know anyone who has that dead-perfect listening space with zero corrections). The DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core, a DSP based room-correction and equalizer, has transformed a good system into one of even greater clarity and detail while establishing near pitch-perfect bass from 30-200 Hz.
If an avid audiophile hears the A/B with his/her room corrected for bass you'll never go back to the uneven bass most rooms provide. it was a night and day revelation, easily discernible to anyone with ears.
Thanks for all of the theater/movie information! I'm reading and digesting it all.
I am fortunate and happy to have my primary two-channel system separate from the TV room, or home theater downstairs. For me, that is a must. I really like seeing the Rocky Mountains and the Continental Divide directly behind my loudspeakers through my living/listening room windows. Having a theater in that room would be tough/inappropriate.
As for Class D amplification I think you are looking in the right direction. For two channel I've used tubes (rarely), but Class AB mostly up until I picked us a W4S STI-1000 integrated (claimed 560/1120w). You cannot hear anything out of the speaker when the system is on with no music input. The pre-amp and amp sections are stone-dead quiet, and clean and precise, with bass authority as well.
I run the STI-1000 with a pair of (used-to-me) Raidho D2 small floorstanders. Unless I had a lot more money these are my 'holy grail' of musical reproduction speakers for two channel. Scratch home theater for these; loudest peaks are only to the mid 90s, but plenty for me for musical listening, and they reproduce tight bass flat to almost 30Hz within limits.
(If I need it louder I'll high-pass D2s and add a sealed sub. I'll also mention that the STI-1000 may be considered neutral to lean, but it pairs very well with the Raidhos as they are more warm than lean; I've tried other power amps but keep going back to the the STI-1000's power section as well as the preamp, looping in the DSP unit.)
I feel room correction for bass response is a must if you ever want to hear how nice your speakers can sound (I still do not know anyone who has that dead-perfect listening space with zero corrections). The DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 Dual Core, a DSP based room-correction and equalizer, has transformed a good system into one of even greater clarity and detail while establishing near pitch-perfect bass from 30-200 Hz.
If an avid audiophile hears the A/B with his/her room corrected for bass you'll never go back to the uneven bass most rooms provide. it was a night and day revelation, easily discernible to anyone with ears.
Thanks for all of the theater/movie information! I'm reading and digesting it all.