Thanks for the speaker recommendations they all look interesting.
I wouldn't mind adding a sub if I had to. TLS (or others,) Why is there no good way to add a sub with an integrated amp? I haven't had long enough time to review the other amps mentioned but at least the Yamaha s801 has a sub out. I realize this doesn't mean it will sound good. The review of S801 here notes:
"The subwoofer output does NOT have independent volume control and has a fixed 2nd order Low Pass Filter (LPF) response just shy of 100Hz. In my setup, I dialed the internal crossover of my sub down to about 60Hz and was able to achieve a great blend with my speakers, which were running full range. As long as you select a crossover frequency about 20Hz away from the built-in Yamaha one, you won't run into the deleterious effects of uneven frequency response near the crossover point that can happen in the pass band when cascading two filters at the same crossover frequency."
Is the integration with the mains going to be a sloppy mess?
Thanks!
It might and it might not be. However using a sub without proper bass management is difficult to predict. It all comes down to a lot of luck then. At least the Yamaha does have a sub line out but no means to cut the bass out of the bookshelves. Then it all depends on your listening habits. Bass management off loads the bass driver in small speaker. If your volume demands are moderate then this is not an issue as a rule.
The motor system in the SEAS Excel driver in the Salk speaker is going to be by far the most capable of all the drivers in the speakers under consideration.
If you want full bass management, then receivers offer it. However even more flexible is to have a separate pre and power amp and then interpose an electronic crossover between the pre amp and power amp. This will probably get you over budget.
If you want to keep it simple then use speakers with a good enough bass response that a sub is not essential.
Unless you like high volumes, play a lot of pipe organ music or a diet of rock music, then you will be fine without a sub.
If you are planning to use the system for a lot of movie watching, then getting a device with proper bass management and dedicated LFE output, would be best.
So to really answer your question then you need to advise us on how loud you intend to play the rig, and what you intend to play through it.
Having been an audio only guy for fifty years and then really getting into AV 10 years ago, I have to say I really like the marriage of good audio and video. I now think that pretty much all systems should now be AV.
Having said that, it does mean that you have to approach audio in a somewhat different fashion then we did prior to the AV revolution. This revolution has changed the demands and expectations of the audio part of the system.
