@bdp24 Thanks for the link. I enjoyed the interview and I agree with Paul about the importance of decent speakers, I wasn’t really hearing a Sound Stage until I acquired the B&W 801s, and I can understand Harry Pearson’s obsession with it; once you hear it, you’ve got to have it. Although I have Paul’s ‘Audiophile’s Guide’ CD and book, and I heard he had done one on ‘Speakers’ I wasn’t aware of the ‘Art of HiFi’ series. Since I now own a decent SACD player, I may secure copies of his ‘Bass’ and ‘Sound Stage’ recordings. Again, thanks for the link.
@mahler123 I wish I could hear your system. I’m sure multichannel recordings must sound wonderful, and I acknowledge that DSP alone can’t render it. The fact that I can’t really move the XRTs around upstairs means that I may be forced to implement some sort of ‘surround’ system. I don’t need height for the front (tweeters go from floor to ceiling), but I’m thinking that rear surrounds over the staircase, behind the listening position would be worth the effort, particularly if it could be implemented with Bluetooth speakers. But even then, simply mounting the speakers over the stairs becomes an issue. I’ve already invested so much time and energy insulating the attic space and installing flooring in its cramped quarters, that the thought of spending any more time up there makes me cringe. But as you say, it might be worth it —next year. First, I feel the need to understand what is going on in my room, optimize the lower frequencies, and properly place my speakers. For me, that is ‘next level,’ multichannel surround sound is a level beyond ‘next’ for me. Given your testimony, I will give it my best consideration going forward, especially for the upstairs space and gear. Thank you for your contribution.