A/V receiver and Legacy Focus SE speakers

While I have a dedicated Martin Logan home theater system and separate two-channel audio system(s), if I had to do it all over again, I'd ditch the home theater setup altogether, and just go back to a fully dedicated two channel stereo system for both. 

A few years back I went into one of the upper tier Magnolia Audio stores within a BestBuy, and had the sale guys put their best 2-channel systems in play, dragging amps over from the audio room into the AV room.  We played the same BluRay concert tracks back and forth several times. Tried 2-3 multi channel movies too. The higher power 2-channel stereo system with the two larger front speakers was simply amazing. They seemed quite puzzled by it all, LOL. Was funny, shoulda seen their faces :)    All of the tracks were recorded in stereo tracks to begin with before they became multi-channel. Just sounded better too, overall.  Maybe sometimes simple is better in some cases, fwiw.  Go figure. 

I believe the PS Audio Stellar Strata also has a HT bypass feature and should have enough power.  They have a free trial period so you can return it if it doesn’t work for you.  I don’t own one…I have a 2-channel system with a Yamaha rn-2000a receiver and use HDMI-arc for TV and movies.

@soix I do have a Pass Labs preamp XP-12 with HT by-pass wondering if I get a different amp and keep my preamp, dacs and streamer …

Yeah the Pass pre should be a huge improvement I’d think.  Definitely get that in there, and the XA25 may work given the relatively high sensitivity of the Focus — certainly worth a shot. 

10-4, will give it a try…but a intergrated would eliminate a lot of gear…one with a big enough amplifier,Dac and airplay..built in..