Lena:
On the subject of the size of your woofers (no inuendo intended
) I would just go ahead and try the crossover thing and see if it works for you; just watch the volume until you establish that you aren't going to thrash the speakers.
STEREO!! TUBES!!
They weren't dummies back 'then'!! As you are seeing, even good 'ol stereo can be magical. It comes down to the technique of microphone placement and mixing of the original recording. On a good stereo recording, there should be _no_ indication of where the speakers are, and the music should just float in space. There can be real depth, height, and the image can extend well beyond the left and right boundries of your speakers if all is optimised. The rub is that it has to be a really good stereo recording: that ideal is unfortunately not realized as much as it could be. With the newer techniques of mixing popular music, using 'virtual surround imaging' plug-ins in a digital workstation enviornment, you should hear things popping up all around you, even behind you, that seem so real that you have to check that you are only listening in stereo.
Of course, real multi-channel holds huge potential to take all that to the next level - with the same provisio - that it is _done well_.
My system uses vacuum tubes exclusively in the power amps, and preamp stages, even the surrounds and center channels. Tubes have such an 'organic' sound that is so pleasing and beguiling that once you hear them, you are hooked. They really _did_ have it right back then!
[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited November 10, 2002).]