The fact of the matter is that, if all you're going to do is drive 60 mph a Ford Taurus will do. Now, if you want to go 160 mph... The same is true of high end audio/video gear. As a musician, I can listen to a 78 rpm recording through Koss cans and I still "get" the music. OTOH, it is uncanny listening to "Rainbow Bridge" an SACD of orchestral music that is unbelieveably realistic on my 5.1 system. It's just a different, more absolute sound that closely resembles one might hear in a concert hall. I can enjoy music whether it comes through a receiver or separates. Let's not be audio snobs!

Jay