Hey, Randy, you're right, and I was trying to simplify the answer for the "masses". Believe me, as many have read in a few of my contributions in other threads, I do know electronics.

Hey, Mike, take advantage of the sonic non-difference and save yourself some money and space.

The long answer is that both schools of thought are true: there are advantages to separates, and high-quality receivers are sonically equivalent.

If there was one true answer, there would be only one model of everything on the market. Diversity of taste, price, quality, desire, the way each of us wants our system to look, sound, and appeal to guests, all play varying parts in our decisions.

There's a reason home theater is considered a hobby. Othrewise, assembling a system would be a chore instead of the fun that it is.

So, don't worry, be happy. Enjoy!

Larry

Thanks guys! Believe me I am happy with my upgrade to the Denon 3802, from my old amp it is night and day. Hopefully I will be able to upgrade again in a few years to separates and retire this one to my office.

one question I have now that you brought up the heat thing is: would it be wise or helpful to me to add a fan to the back of the Denon? (like a PC power supply fan)or would this cause more distortion and problems then it is worth?

Also Mike, I agree and in my Den with one wall missing I doubt I could hear a difference anyway.. and both the wallet and wife are happier this way.. Thanks again for all the input!

Don

... so now I've decided to collect comic books, to make up for all the ones my Mother threw out every time we moved (army brat). Anyone know where I can get "The Flash" first issue... but not the one printed on the regular 4-colour press; there was a set that was printed on vacuum-tube only equipment. I understand the ink colour is much smoother and warmer... ... Mike

Don, a missing wall???

Can't watch movies in your underwear anymore?

Neighbors complaining about the sound?

What's holding the ceiling up?

Filed a missing wall report?

Kidding, of course! I assume you mean the TV room connects to other space. If you set up the room so the 'missing wall' is in the rear half of the set-up, that shouldn't affect the sound too much, just don't rely on reflected surround sound.

As for the fan, I used on on my first surround receiver (Dolby), which was one of the first ones on the market, the Pioneer VSX-5000. I stood a 4" pancake fan on edge behind the receiver, blowing away from the receiver, drawing air into the perforations. Kept it cool, but it pulled a lot of dust into the receiver, which, in retrospect, probably created more impedance to cooling than helping it.

The manufacturers are usually good about designing their units to keep cool the way they come, using natural convection (heat rising). Those that need fans come with them. However, if you have your equipment in a cabinet, you definitely should use a fan to boost air flow in its natural direction, i.e., blowing in at the bottom or out at the top.

Larry





Oh, and Mike, the vacuum-tube printing needs a cooling fan, too.

Mike: Getting back to the idea in your post of the 4th, unless you're suggesting multiple drivers in discrete channels comprising each "wall", you would have nothing more than a 5.1-channel system! ;-b

Paul: ROFL! very good! So now we know we can have it all, and still only have to buy six speakers (big ones, mind...) ... Mike