Mods, can all these threads be consolidated?
@Aust11n I think James and others are giving good feedback in the other similar threads.
The most critical aspect to all this is speaker choice, as that's where the rubber meets the road. So that aspect should be the main focus, and the bulk of the budget. Home auditions are a PITA, but you wouldn't be out of line to take advantage of BB's return policy to accommodate home auditions of other models.
It's critical that the speakers suit your room and listening habits, and you like the way they sound. Gene had a good impression of this line, but James hasn't had them in for a full review yet. The larger B2 should have a smidge more dynamic range, but not terribly much.
The rest of your choices of kit are much simpler, e.g. power requirements are based on your speakers and listening habits. Further considerations are features you plan to use. The fellows around here have their fingers on the pulse of the market and can help guide you to appropriate choices. (The differences in power between the Denon you chose and the other options you mention are fairly negligible. There may be feature differences, which may be more pertinent for your situation. For example, you may end up preferring less sensitive model of speakers, requiring an AVR with more power or a full set of preouts for use with external amplification.)
