[AuburnM5]

I am really glad I stumbled onto this site this evening. I am 43 and bought my "real" speakers (B&W CDM7SE) my So yr in college and paired it with a Marantz SR-14. Year later I added a Mcintosh MC162 to it and I was off. Went to Meridian, better and more McIntosh amps, traded in speakers every year with scholarship check.....by the time I finished my Master's in 2005 I had a pair of B&W N802's being powered by an MC352 and the HTM1 powered by a bridged MC162. Over the years, I traded, added, sold etc until My wife and were in our first house and 4 years into it, it was crazy for a 30 year old. I still had my BW's and added the SCMS for th rears. I moved to a Meridian G68 ADV (still miss it ) and the HD621 to keep it modern. and I had a pair of MC352's bridged for the 802's.  I was happy. Then we had two little ones and built a house with a do what you want theater. Long story, short, I went to all McIntosh because I fell for the looks and meters (and sound), Sony 675es projector, Oppo 203, MCD301. Upgraded all the speakers to 803 D3, etc, s,

Now for why I am here, I got rid of my McIntosh MX122 a few months ago because I felt it was not even close to performing it's tag. I replaced it with the Anthem AVM 70 and have been ecstatic with the improvement on anything multichannel and Atmos. I finally traded in my McIntosh C2500 for the C2700 when I was able to sell the old for 4200 and get a new C2700 for 6200.
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There are three things I am so lost with right now. I use the theater for 80% music, so that's what is the most important to me. I currently have an Oppo 203 and a McIntosh MCD301. On the used market, I have nearly 4400 tied up into two machines that play 2 channel SACD well, but the C2700 DAC is better than the Oppo and the 301's analog balance out into that 2700 is breathtaking. 

Is time to sell those two pieces, get am 1000k dollar Blu-Ray that plays all SACD, DVD-Audio, DSD, etc.? I really have found myself into streaming and use some of that money to get a great streamer?

And then there is the question of is my amplification for all channels except the front 3 overkill? I have a McIntosh MC452, MC207, and MC205 driving my 7.2.4 setup. I cant help but think a 6000 dollar amp used for ambient sounds in movies is a waste of money and could be put into better speakers, better 2 ch system, etcl?

Help, I am soooo lost. When that MX122 left and I was waiting for the Anthem....I brought our Marantz SR6012 from downstairs and put the LCR on pres and rest on it's internal amps and I will be honest, movies and music sounded damn good,.

[Phil A]

Welcome to AC!  Streaming or file playback is a convenient way to go.  Did you have lots of music discs or plan to buy lots more of them?

[toocool4]

Welcome to AudioCircle AuburnM5

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome to AC 

[Doublej]

Welcome, I think it's time to look at Playback Designs gear.

http://www.playbackdesigns.com/

[AuburnM5]

Welcome to AudioCircle AuburnM5

I have hundreds of discs . SACD, Blu Rays, Blu Ray Audio, CDs, DVD-Audio. I likely will keep buying too,

[Phil A]

I have hundreds of discs . SACD, Blu Rays, Blu Ray Audio, CDs, DVD-Audio. I likely will keep buying too,

I probably have over a few thousand discs but about 10+ years back I bit the bullet (never thought I would) and went to file playback.  Universal players which can play SACDs and DVD-As have dwindled over the years.  Also, like any electro-mechanical device, over a period of time will eventually break down and specific software by the manufacturer is written for the drive in those devices and those drives usually only get manufactured for a limited period of time (e.g. 7 years).  When those parts go, it means going to a newer device.  Like any digital playback over a period of time, there are improvements in the onboard DACs too.  So what once was cutting edge 7-8 years back is usually yesterday's technology.  I buy downloads where I can but sometimes I have to buy discs as what I want is not available via download.  I convert what is on the disc to a file.

So, if sticking with disc playback, just keep that in mind.  I still have disc spinners but they're either for movies or the once every few years someone brings over a CD (and uses disc playback) and wishes to hear it.  Better audio disc playback (not your standard $200 Blu-Ray player) is not cheap (e.g. https://www.crutchfield.com/g_53100/CD-Players.html?&pg=2&o=d  or something like the Esoteric line - https://www.esoteric.jp/en/category/sacd_cd_player) and a stand alone DAC of excellent quality along with the hardware for file playback of files can often be had for a similar price point or less and can still be used with a disc transport for playback with many of your discs.  Everything of course is a matter of person preferences and there's no right or wrong choice for everyone.

[JLM]

I have hundreds of discs . SACD, Blu Rays, Blu Ray Audio, CDs, DVD-Audio. I likely will keep buying too,

Have you thought about streaming?  Content is almost unlimited, even more convenient, accessible from around the world.