small audio/video system for elderly space

Dwhitt,

I was steering you towards one box solutions. If you are interested in two box systems based on an Oppo disk player, that is a whole other deal.

If you are interested in a receiver/Oppo DV-983H system with AM/FM and subwoofer out - look at these:

Cambridge Audio Azur 540R
http://www.cambridgeaudio.com/summary.php?PID=282&Title=Azur+540R+(Version+3)+6.1+HDMI+AV+Receiver

Music Hall Audio Maven
http://www.musichallaudio.com/mmf_products.asp?show=true&prolook=maven

NAD C-725BEE
http://nadelectronics.com/products/hifi-receivers/C-725BEE-Stereo-Receiver

Outlaw Audio 2150
http://www.outlawaudio.com/products/rr2150.html

Any of these receivers paired with Oppo's best player would make a righteous combo. With the power provided by the Music Hall and the Outlaw, you could easily drive some greedier speakers. In addition to the B&W CM-1 and the Era Design 4 listed above, I might suggest the Dynaudio Focus 110 as well.

http://dynaudio.com/eng/systems/lines/focus/focus110.php.

One last suggestion:

a Peachtree Audio Decco or Nova + Oppo 981H set up with digital sound out to the Decco and using the Oppo's very good onboard video processor to your monitor. No AM/FM, but onboard DAC, 50-80W amp, tube preamp, and nice sound for between $800 and $1200 depending on finish and power output. Would drive iPod, computer and all other digital sources. Slick, Slick, Slick.

http://signalpathint.com/index.php/Peachtree-Audio-Products/Peachtree-Audio-Products.html

Happy shopping.

yes , lots of food for thought.....i do like the one box system thoughts, spend money on the power cord and put money saved on the interconnects into the speaker wires,etc. i want the naim, but at this point , although i have owned very expensive equipment over the last forty years, i am having to be frugal. so the little nad with effecient speakers, i like the imputs of the nad 717 and the cost effective aperion. i have a squeezebox and buddy gave me when he upgraded to the duet system and i like what it does for relaxing, but to have something with a little more dynamics and clarity with my cd collection is going to be nice. this is going to be a tough decision,but with all the good selections i can't fail...thanks to all ,dwhitt

now i am leaning more toward the arro totem and maven,the maven due to the power the arro's may need...any suggestions there, what a beautiful and simple system gsm 18439 , i have a simple tube int. with tube player and totem speakers and love it...tubes are hard to beat...dwhitt

Dwhitt,

You can save your money on a power cord for the NAD C-717 because it has a dedicated lamp cord hardwired through the chassis.

If this system really intrigues you, you also ought to look at desktop units by Onkyo and Denon, and maybe JVC. I have one of the Onkyos on my desk at work and it sounds pretty good with the stock speakers that came with it in the box. A decent set of speaker wires and a little silclear or similar contact enhancer on the AC plug and you are in business. My Onkyo is CD only, but I seem to recall the DVD units sounded at least as good.

With that said, 20W of budget class D amplification gets the leading edges and sounds "speedy" and lively, but lacks some in terms of body and warmth. Given your audio history, you may want to look at one the larger NAD all-in-ones. Audio Advisor has the NAD-L73 DVD/CD Surround Receiver on sale for about $500 right now - $200 less than it's 2 channel sister unit the L54. I have heard this system driving Era Designs and B&W CM-1's and it sounded like music. An active subwoofer would still be needed to get movie effects or deepest bass passages right.

Maven + Arro = :-)