Folks,

I've only posted replies a few times because I don't have time to check the Forum more than once a week or so - and by then the keen amongst you have pretty much wrung the last drop of blood out of most topics.

However in this case the topic gets close to what's near and dear to me: cost versus return.

To cut to the chase, at almost every price point, except for those that only Mercedes owners will touch, a receiver will almost always give you much more bang for the buck - in my opinion. The problem with the debate (in general) is that people always choose unfair comparisons. "Do I buy the $1000 receiver or the $1700 separates?" Not fair - to either. Better to ask "if I have only $1000 to spend, should I buy separates or a receiver?" The answer is obvious - at least to me.

Or better yet, why not ask "if I have $3000 to spend, and want to upgrade my current system, including speakers, what should the relative split be between pre/pro/amps (or receiver) and speakers?" I would argue that buying better transducers (ie. speakers) is almost always the best way to get more bang for your buck. So to answer the question (and I know there no perfect answer) I might be inclined to spend $1000 on a receiver and $2000 on speakers, rather than $1700 on pre/pro/amps and $1300 on speakers. I think that would be the way to get the most value for your dollar spent.

Now before before the afficionados out there start tearing into me, I know, I know, I've oversimplified the discussion. I'm actually a separates guy myself. I also have the luxury of running two complete home theatres in my house: one for me, and one for the rest of the family.

Mine is full of separates (and then some) because I'm forever tweaking and replacing bits and pieces because it's a lifelong hobby and if I ever assemble the PERFECT system I'll be forever miserable because there would, by definition, be no more tweaking to do. (I sense a collective "AHHH" from the home theatre Collective out there.)

But the one for the family - that's another matter. It's got a good receiver (Yamaha) and good/ok speakers (Paradigm/Energy), and if I ever need to use it (because my son just has to demonstrate to his friends how awesome Metallica's S&M sounds in my theatre) I'm happy with it - and the value that it represents.

And by the by, I added a new model 950 to my main theatre, and it is, in my opinion, by far the greatest value in "separates" that I have ever come across - bar none! If the question were "$1700: Denon receiver or 950/7100 combo?" I'd have to take the combo. And THAT's why I said "almost always" in the third paragraph above. Outlaw has really thrown the wrench into the old value equation.

Regards.

Jeff Mackwood

ps. to Gonk: thank you very much for the terrific reviews on the 950 that you have posted. I've just printed a copy that's now attached to my 950's owner's manual. It's definitely required reading!