Overview
This system can do wonderful analog two channel using the Marantz 7702 "Pure Direct" setting, can play any type of disc or file either video or audio using my Sony Universal BRP. I primarily use an X-Box Series S for movie and music streaming because it can be set to upmix content to native Atmos, DTS, or 2, 5,or 7 channel audio. Much better to my ear than the upmixers in a processor or a receiver. I listen to stereo 10% of the time and immersive audio using Auro 3D, Audyssey DSX, or Atmos most of the time. What made this system an "end game" system for me was adding the room treatments and then upgrading to a pro license of Audyssey and using a calibrated mic instead of the one that came with the Marantz processor. Once I did that I felt very little desire to change or upgrade anything else.
Immersive/Spatial Audio
For listening in immersive audio I find using wide channels more important than height channels. You can look up the studies that Thomas Holman (THX founder) did with Audyssey when they created the
Audyssey DSX codec. If you are doing an immersive home theater I recommend wide channels at 60 degree angles from the MLP and using as close to an identical speaker as your fronts as possible.
I use Paradigm Active 40's for L-R and the Active 20's for wide channels, taking care to have the tweeters the same height. (link to specs) You might notice the matching Paradigm Active center channel sitting on a pair of Isoacoustic stands. Same thing, getting the tweeter at the same height as front left and right. The left and right height channels you see near the ceiling are Active 20's which needs tall stands to support the weight of the amps inside. The center height channel is the Paradigm Cinema 400 which uses the same tweeter as the active speakers and was what Paradigm recommended. I am driving that speaker with a separate amp. Sandwiching a big screen between a lower and upper center channel is awesome, and makes vocals just right. So many people complain of having to boost the center channel, not with this setup. Finally, using height channels instead of speakers firing that are embedded in the ceiling is one of the
recommended Dolby layouts and I just set the processor for front and rear height channels.
Power:
I took special care to power my system starting with
Pangea outlets,
Virtual Dynamics power cords, a
Black Lion Audio PG2 power conditioner and the
ADD-POWR or
QRT system which conditions power in a different way than any power conditioner that I am aware of. The network is all on the same upgraded power setup I use for the components. When you use active speakers you don't need speaker cables but each speakers needs to be plugged into an outlet so my setup needs more outlets than most.