First off; I want to express my gratitude to you all for your encouragement and suggestions
Each letter has been extremely valuable in helping me to figure out the best course of action regarding the system I'm putting together for my girlfriend & myself.
Here's where we stand currently:
The Vantages are currently being run by an Anthem TLP-1 preamp (bought thru AudiogoN )and the front channels of the Harman-Kardon AVR7000 (100 wpc) receiver I took out of my own home theater setup.
Tho the surround processor section of the receiver had gone south, the amps are fine.
As H/K receivers are known for being fairly high-current units,this will allow the speakers to get their 90 hour break-in as I look around for a suitable dedicated amp.
Since $800 is the ceiling for how much we're willing to spend for an amp ( with the option of upgrading after tax-time next year ), most of the recommendations sent my way were thought-provoking, but quite abit out of our current price-range.
With that in-mind...
...and the added parameter that it had to appeal to her aesthetically ("I don't want one of those Huge,Black, Ugly Boxes in the living room", she says)...
...I was initially leaning towards a used Sunfire stereo amp.
I'm keeping an eye open for an early McCormack unit on the used-gear market: I recall hearing a pair of Quests run by an amp from this Virginia-based company a few years back & was very impressed by the sound.
Another amp to consider is the Nelson Pass-designed Adcom GFA-555 that can be had within the price-range I'm working with;
(Getting this will take me back to the "Huge, Black, Ugly Box-Argument", I know, but the cost-savings may be worth it.)
I'm really interested in auditioning the Emotiva RPA-1 with the system.
Besides the Sunfire, this is the only other amp my girl likes in regards to looks.
( The SAF in all it's glory, donchaknow?)
I've read nothing but glowing reports on the overall quality and sound of this amplifier here online and elsewhere.
A 30 home audition, a 200 dual-mono design & it's price is an uncanny $699 (currently on-sale at their site for a hundred dollars less than this) makes this amp very tempting ,indeed.
In talking to the tech at their site, I was assured that the amp can easily handle a 2ohm load.
As far as the source; I will get the Squeezebox and put it with a MHDT DAC.
(Just about finished importing both of our cd collections into lossless files for use with iTunes onto a rarely -used computer upstairs)
Due to her work, she's long had wi-fi in the house, so that's already taken care of.
What I would like to find is a used DAC that will take two inputs and switch between them via without much fuss;
(perhaps via remote control or, like my Quadscan Video Processor for the home theater, by making the switch based on whichever source is active at the time )
one from the output of the Squeezebox & the other from the 5-disc cd changer that will tbe in the system for those times when guests come over with music of their own .
The lady likes the Harmony 1000 remote ( "it's pretty") & and my own experience with their lower end models have certainly been positive.
I've been looking into the various interconnects and speaker wire that provides good bang-for-the-buck and will compliment the overall sound of the system.
I see that I have to figure out how to tame the boominess of the bass in some parts of the room with cost-effective (and decor-friendly) sound-treatments, as well.
[your suggestions/input will be most helpful, folks]
Even so, the Vantages have returned us both to the pleasures of simply darkening a room and just LISTENING to the music.
An experience that will only deepen as the system matures.
As before; I look forward to reading your comments.
-Val :music: