Hi, bleaston here. I plan to read the audio heaven piece. I like where it was going.
I have two paradigm titans bought 1998, always pleasant and just re-foamed by me. I have a NAD 3045 on its way. I will be able to stream highest resolution by wire. Will also experiment with CDs. The room is like 10 by 12 or 9 by 11, everything hard surfaces. using them as true bookshelf speakers, one on a wooden drawer, the other on a sturdy wire-metal shelf, both about a foot from the wall. I have never owned an almost-audiophile level receiver, dedicated to stereo. I had a Yamaha RXV793 driving the Titans as surrounds. Not to be the lonely hearts club, but I want the music to feel like a companion. Low volume, integrated with the day. I will be playing mostly from Tidal, 1001 Albums Before You Die - stuff I know mixed with stuff that is different.
My other project is with the Paradigm CC-150, 1999, just re-foamed by me, sounding good. I am trying to use it as a soundbar - aka the only speaker producing the audio while watching streaming. When I re-foamed it I thought two mid-range speakers and a tweeter should be able to carry the load of TV audio. It's attached to a little Fosi-BA20 bluetooth amp (using 1 of the 2 stereo channels). The results are what would be expected - works great for Jeopardy (all dialogue), miserable for Batman. So...I am looking at a unit (5.1 or 7.1) that would be able to pull out dialogue best on that center channel. I want to see how much I can accomplish with the CC150. My current target is the Marantz nr1510 - 5-channel discrete power amplifier, 50W per channel (8-ohm, 20Hz – 20kHz, 0.08% THD, 2 Ch. drive). The room is again about 10 by 12, and I am competing with the fan of the projector, so distinction/clarity with a little power will be needed. Is 50W going to do it?
I do have a pair of Paradigm Mini-Monitors and Paradigm 10 inch woofer, to eventually supplement or complete a system, but I am going about this systematically. I live on a top floor, so I am playing around in the mid/high ranges for now.