Man, I thought I had completely lost it...
After just having spent $6000 putting in a home theater, complete with projector, screen and 7.1 surround sound, I'm now looking to spend 10-15 grand on a completely separate STEREO system. I've been a vinyl spinner and SACD collector for quite some time now, but I've never really had the chance to experience any of that music on a really exceptional (I know this is all relative) system until just the other day.
From a $3000 Denon stereo SACD player, which they don't sell in the U.S. (I live in Japan), and processed by a Tri triode tube amp and coming out through a pair of B&W 803S speakers, the music was simply astounding. It was so open, airy, clean, full and pure. So...ALIVE! Not anything like listening to it through an HT reciever - even a good one, like I have. Well engineered SACDs, especially sound so 3D in stereo and while CDs sound incredible, as well on such a system, the soundstage is comparitively flat compared to SACD. Is this format really doomed? Tell me it isn't so...
Anyway, it's good to come here and feel sane for wanting to spend a good chunk of change to get a decent musical experience from a sound system. Great site.