I'll be sure and read through it. you guys are awesome and Geniuses LOL!! I use 12 gauge speaker wire from QED, XLR cables from blue jeans and audioquest. Thinking about getting the Kimber cable 8TC Gene recommends, but a little too pricey for me right now.
Another question I'm sure you guys know about... I just use generic settings for my Crossover at 80hz and my LFE at 120hz. is that adequate or should I play around and experiment with other settings?
Based on bench test results, say total distortions and noise, those Apollon power amps that use the well known class D designs such as Purifi and Hypex modules are among the best. Take a look of the top 10 ever measured by Audiosciencereview.com and you will see that all but one (the Benchmark amp) are class D. You can include all power amps measured by Gene right here on Audioholics.com, such as the Anthem STR, you will not find one single class A, AB amp (again except the famous Benchmark AHB2, and probably a couple of Chinese made low output (less than 200 WPC) power amps.
Those class D amps are tiny, light weight so it is easy to place them, and if you willing to pay, you can get those build in reasonably good looking cases (subjective). I have replaced two of my big and heavy Bryston and Parasound Halo amps recently and have no desire to go back.
Apollon Hypex NC2K Monoblock Amplifier Review | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum
Apollon Audio - Hypex NCore, Purifi Based Class-D Amplifiers
So, on money no object basis, if you are after better sound quality, I hate to say it, you should really spend your money (even if you have more than plenty) on speakers. The B&W 700 series are nice, very nice looking to, but they really cannot compare with some of the KEF models based on measurements, that's if you want to continue with pursuing the British made kind of sound signature (if there is such a thing). About some potential shortcoming of the B&W diamond series, ask
@TLS Guy , our resident diy speaker expert (a very bias one though lol..) or our respected
@shadyJ who is very knowledgeable in speaker designs and they will tell you why for the big money, there are far better choices than B&W's diamond series, the 800 series are better, and I actually wouldn't mind them, but those are typically hard to drive, on all else being equal basis. The better KEF Reference series are hard to drive too, but with your amps/budget, apparently, I doubt that would be a factor for you, but with the KEFs, at least if you give them the current they need to draw, they will sound great for you.
HiFi Speakers | KEF Canada
Another important factor to consider is to try and use room correction systems by Dirac Live:
Dirac Live - Digital Room Correction software
Measurements don't lie, room corrections, if done well, does work like magic to your perceived sound quality verifiable by measurements.
Since you are at the level of the Anthem STR power amp, there is no point in focusing time and money on better ones, the recommended class D amps obviously have much better verifiable audio specs than the STR amps but you have asked yourself that if at such extremely low distortions and noise, flat frequency response, inaudible cross talk issues, and multiple times more output than you need, then why would amps in those categories make any difference? So, I would just go with the ones that has the best specs and available measurements so you know whether you could near the minute differences or not, at least based on known science (admittedly there might still be certain things, ie unknown science that we, the hifi people still don't know about and that might affect sound quality), you know you are getting the best for your investment.
My suggestion is, go and audition some of the reference level KEF, Focal (start from series fitted with Beryllium tweeters), Perlisten (
Perlisten R7t Floor-Standing Loudspeaker Review (audioholics.com) ) and even B&W's 800 diamond's newest models.
I have never heard the Perlisten, but Gene and Shady seems to think they are great, and I trust them and they are both not only subjective, and they pay a lot of attention the verifiable audio performance base on actual measurements instead of users subjective reviews/hearsay.
Sorry about my super long post, but I really am trying to share what I leant in my many years of experience in reading, analyzing, auditioning and unfortunately, excessive spending lol.. in this silly but enjoyable hobby.