I wanted to redo my Intro post so that anyone that is reading this thread for the first time can see where I have started and where I am at now. I have learned a lot from bd.com and all over the internet and thru magazines and dealers and friends. I have not been affraid to go and listen to anything, I like to know what it all sounds like. And below is my setups I have had over the years and why/how I have evolved. I am more of an audio guy then a video guy, but HT and Music split about equally.
I have owned many items. I have had 2 TV in my livingroom, a 42" Vizio, and now my current 40" Samsung. I have had 2 Panasonic BDPs, my first one in 2007, and now I have had my Sony BDP for the past 2 yrs. I have also had 2 Sony receivers. The one I have now is beastly, but I will be switching it out in the near future possibly for an Integra receiver. I have Pro-ject Debut III TT and I use it almost daily. I have a growing collection of Blu-rays, Vinyl records and CDs.
I started at BD.com with Sony
SS-F5000 fronts speakers,
CN-5000 center and
B1000 surrounds paired with a Sony SW-3000 sub. This system allowed me to first start enjoying HT, but I quickly found that it wasn't very good, and it lacked in a lot of areas. I was wanting more. For $300 speakers, it was hard to argue buying them, but they were just that, $300 speakers. What could I really ask from them?
I changed the Sonys early in 2008 to
Energy C-300s,
C-C100 center and
C-100 &
C-50 bookshelfs paired with an Acoustic Audio HD-Sub10. This system was nice. A real step up in performance, and I will always have a spot for Energy speakers. They are a very good brand that offers a lot of performance to the Entry Level Mid-Fi HT enthusiast. They were great with music and HT alike. While I had these I added an elemental Designs A2-300 subwoofer and a Pro-ject Debut III TT. These were great additions and only improved what the Energys were able to provide. Which was good mid-range, smooth highs that didn't fatigue your ears and decent bass. However these speakers meant a lot to me in my development of what I liked soundwise.
I have been able to learn a lot about audio and how it works, what sounds good, and most Importantly what I like my system to sound like.
Now I have recently upgraded my system again. This time it will be here for a while. I have bought
Dynaudio Excite X16s to anchor my front soundstage, I will be adding an
X22 Center Channel shortly. I will be working the wife for a set of
X12 surrounds for some time in the future also, but that may be a ways away. I have since added an Integra DTR-40.2 receiver as well. I have added a Naim Nait 5i Integrated Amp, it plays all my music and acts as a power amp when watching movie with its HTBP. Im also getting an external DAC in the rDAC from Arcam that will be for processing all my CDs audio thru the Sonys optical output to the Nait 5i. This helps to greatly improve the musical aspect of my setup.
I ended up buying DM2/6s which are basically the same as the Excite X12 with a different crossover and vinyl veneer for surrounds. A very good investment.
In late 2012 I picked up a pair of
Dynaudio Focus 160s and then at the end of 2013 i got the
Dynaudio Focus 210C center channel. In early 2013 I replaced the Naim 5i with the Naim XS, a very good upgrade. Now in early 2014 Im going to bo back to tower speakers and Ill be buying the
Dynaudio Focus 260s. This setup will give me the output and extension that Im finding is missing on very limited occasions; but isnt that was this hobby is about, filling in the gaps?
In terms of audio speakers that I have owned, this is about as good as it gets for someone like me. I love my audio/video system, and I think that many people can learn from me what can be done on budgets, and over time. There will still be minor tweaks to the system here and there, and a few major ones also. I hope you enjoy reading my thread and feel free to ask me anything.
Thanks