First Hi-Fi system

The system was put together by me through lots of reading (thanks audiogon members) and from talking with some really great guys at my local hifi store. i listened to the pathos (which i previously didn't consider) with the dynaudios and was immediately impressed. I saw some used dynaudio monitors that are a few steps up so I was considering those without listening to them although I would love to give my business to the local store but the used market is really hard to pass up.

I also like the idea of building a listening room and having the option of using the pathos classic one in mono mode with another classic one (although my feeling is if I do this, it will be with brand new separates).

Now you should trust your ears and assemble a system based on listening.

If I were starting from scratch, I would start by finding a good local dealership and spending a bunch of time there listening to your own music. Buy what you like from one place, knowing it sounds good to your ears and have them set it up at your house. Also try to hear systems belonging to friends for comparison.

Your ears , your money, your enjoyment in that order. If the gear you choose after listening to it, and it has the features you want,in the price range your willing to pay and sounds good to you nothing or no one elses opinion matters. Enjoy! Cheers.

As much as I admire your choices (and I do), Rrog has it right. The best systems work together in ways that you will not understand without listening. Even things which should match, on paper, like hand in glove, sometimes do not get it right.

As you have been doing a fair bit of reading, I am sure that you are not going to overlook what is probably the most important synergistic relationship in audio - the room/speaker interaction.

Best of luck!