Anyone have one of these systems, what did you have before it? How does it rate against anything you've had or heard before it for movies?

synth one 15 years ago, very fatiguing. Don't like it.

I have heard pretty much the entire line in some very well setup rooms. Properly implemented it is an amazing system. If you have a local dealer they should be able to arrange a demo for you.

I have heard the 175,000 Hercules, the Synth one, the two and the in wall, still I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE, BLURRY IMAGING IN A ROARING CAGE. This system was designed for pro logic based THX not for full 7.1 multichannel.

But how do you REALLY feel:)

Even though I respect MAX's opinion for me I like the Synth series for movies. The impact was awesome however...

To my ear the Genelac demo at CEDIA (about 25% less than JBL) was equally fantastic but the real winner for movies was the Tannoy demo at CEDIA at a price that was extremely competitive ($18-20K without amps and processor).

Another consideration might be PHC. They do there own amp and crosserover gig as well. Very pricey like the JBL but it kicked some serious tail.


Mike

Synthesis appears to want to replicate the movie theater experience at home, but why replicate what you can easily outdo?

I have heard the 175,000 Hercules, the Synth one, the two and the in wall, still I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE, BLURRY IMAGING IN A ROARING CAGE. This system was designed for pro logic based THX not for full 7.1 multichannel.


I Agree, I have heard the Synth several times I was not that impressed it was just loud that's all:)

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY DISAGREE.


Coming from you I take that as a complement.

Peter's changing his business name to BipolarMax to describe his feelings towards all audio gear.

Another consideration might be PHC. They do there own amp and crosserover gig as well. Very pricey like the JBL but it kicked some serious tail.


Mike

Hey mate, You meant PMC, which I just realised I was confusing with ATC since their product is named the ATL.

http://www.pmc-speakers.com/imgResize.php?img=images/products/14554b66e1dfcd_aml_1.jpg

PMC is good gear.

Richard

Peter, PHC is different from PMC. :rolleyes:

they are definetly bright! More bright than even my "inexpensive" in comparison Klipsch THX Ultra II package!

I've heard PHC before
http://www.professionalhomecinema.com/phcHome.htm :)

I've heard several Synthesis demo's and can honestly say that some of them - like the Synthesis Everest 250.000$ system that I heard in Berlin - are the very best home theater systems I heard.

In fact, I am considering investing in a Synthesis K2 system. Disadvantages are the obliged Lex MC12HD processor, which has no Dolby True HD and DTS Master HD decoding, the fact that you need another processor with an extra D/A-A/D stage and of course the heavy price tag...





The only real competitor that I am aware of is PHC (not PMC!)

Horn based systems, also when driven actively, have some advantages. The load on the driver sinks dramatically and distortion levels respectively as well, which is very good. However, you need good room treatment and equalisation, then brightness won't be an issue. Passive x-overs are known to have load dependencies, so I woudl favor an active approach throughout. Remember, those speakers are designed to serve a greater audience/Theater with sound. For the small sweet spot rooms of perfectionists, there are more options to good sound, as less force is needed to hit reference levels :)

but the real winner for movies was the Tannoy demo at CEDIA at a price that was extremely competitive ($18-20K without amps and processor).



Mike,

can you please expand which Tannoy package was that?

Is it the new Definition Install Line or something from the pro range?

I haven't heard anyone mention here that virtually all the components and drivers in the Synthesis line are now different from the original Syn 1, 2, and 3. I haven't jumped in to hear these, but my guess is that they are more refined than the originals.

As sort of an off-hand compliment, I've often described the Klipsch THX U2 line as having a refinement to its horn-based sound quality that Synthesis wishes it had.

Personally if you don't like the JBL Synthesis but you want horns, go with the Triad Platinums.

Richard

FWIW, I've heard PMC's upper end stuff at a DTS demo and didn't like it *at all*. Colored, harsh, unrefined, boxy, out of control. Saw the measurements of their GB1 speaker and they measured horribly and weren't exactly cheap either. Have no idea what people hear in them. It scared the pants off me because I thought it was the measurements of the PSB GB1, but thankfully, it was the PMC.

I bought a JBL Synthesis® Array Two Plus (yeah, who names these systems?) with the SAM1HF and SAM2LF modules, and I have to say, it seriously outperforms anything else I auditioned in the same market segment. In CA it's a $60k+ system including our blessed sales tax, but I paid less than full retail. Even so, it's a serious investment.

I spent more money reconfiguring the HT, plus room treatments, and JBL sent out the calibration expert who took the time to really dial in the system. It's absolutely worth every penny.

While personal preferences (and prejudices) vary, I cannot imagine anyone calling this system anything other than superb.

The Professional Home Cinema (PHC) gear was impressive, too, but decidedly less satisfying and IMO not the equal of either the Triad Platinum system or the JBL Synthesis®. Klipsch THX system in this segment? Not really a comparable product. No thanks.

Filecat,

I admonish you that I have much better things with my time, that what you made me do this morning at 5 am (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxgxWPk_t1c&feature=channel_page). CEASE AND DESIST WITH YOUR PROSAIC STATEMENTS.

I guess I will have to order a few of these to pass around to forum members.
http://blog.sellsiusrealestate.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/07/youradhere.jpg

For someone looking for the supreme surround sound experience I suggest thinking outside the box (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15988257&postcount=247).

Filecat,

CEASE AND DESIST WITH YOUR PROSAIC STATEMENTS.



For someone looking for the supreme surround sound experience I suggest thinking outside the box (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15988257&postcount=247).

From the dictionary:

prosaic |prōˈzāik|
adjective
having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty : prosaic language can't convey the experience.
• commonplace; unromantic : the masses were too preoccupied by prosaic day-to-day concerns.

"Thinking outside the box" is a good example of a prosaic statement that has become the de facto inside the box utterance of the 2000s.

The room you linked to is a bit gaudy for my plebian, unimaginative tastes, though I liked the iPhone. I'm sure the room is great with the lights down and the system in full operation, if those plots are actuals.

When it cmes to what people see and hear, there is, of course, no accounting for taste. You think you can account for mine with acerbic and sarcastic admonitions, but you can't, any more than I can account for yours.

I did get a laugh out of you youtube effort. Well done. :D

For someone looking for the supreme surround sound experience I suggest thinking outside the box (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15988257&postcount=247).

Who built the fabric panels in that room? They look awful.

If you look at the entire thread, you can see what a labor of love (and fanaticism ;) ) it was. Plus it was a collaboration, with a demanding owner and a very particular architect. So while the panels might not be to our liking, I'm certain they are well-received in Italy and that they function admirably.

The thread is well worth reading if some of the extraneous hyperbole and general goofing around that invades long threads can be filtered out.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1021614

It's an ambitious and noteworthy project.

I don't understand why you'd want a Synthesis. The equalization box (SDEC 4500) is long in the tooth and is far behind other products providing the some functions. The SD40HD processor is the Lexicon MC12HD which is NOT HDMI 1.3b and currently does not support any of the high resolution lossless audio formats. If you want to spend that kind of money, you need to extract free upgrades to the replacements for both the SD40HD and the SDEC 4500 when they are available.

Genelec is an option (a good one). Get a more current, fresh surround processor, along with something along the lines of the QSC DSP322UA ... less money better performance.

Based upon your room size and the room's requirements (which you should determine first), you can find better for less (and more).

The SD40HD processor is the Lexicon MC12HD which is NOT HDMI 1.3b and currently does not support any of the high resolution lossless audio formats.

Does the JBL version of the lexicon support LPCM over HDMI?

If you look at the entire thread, you can see what a labor of love (and fanaticism ;) ) it was. Plus it was a collaboration, with a demanding owner and a very particular architect. So while the panels might not be to our liking, I'm certain they are well-received in Italy and that they function admirably.

The thread is well worth reading if some of the extraneous hyperbole and general goofing around that invades long threads can be filtered out.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1021614

It's an ambitious and noteworthy project.

Ah, yes I remember this thread when it was first started. Exciting to see that it has come so far, and no doubt the room is superb from a performance standpoint. I was simply surprised that those panels were given a pass assuming the considerable price tag.

As far as the topic at hand, I've always been a fan of the Synthesis systems, but I would agree that some of the components could use upgrading. They are particularly adept at playing live concert recordings, something that many (most?) comparably-priced systems lack the raw power and size to accomplish effectively. For some clients that has been priority one, especially those that have lost an ear for minute details. The ability to feel] the music is more important than extreme levels of resolution, at least to a degree.

which TANNOY was at CEDIA ? this one ?http://www.tannoy.com/ResidentialSummary.aspx

i'm getting the DC12is for LCR first in demo room 2 here
demo room 1 is JBL PRO cinema. just luv it. far far cheaper than Synthesis.
me and friend we both own such a system and there's no turning back.
bullet proof, distorsion free (with racks full of pro amps, active crossovers)

"the center channel" :)

the Klipsch THX is better suited for rooms size under 250sq ft. (25sq meters or less)
especially with just twin 6'' woofers.

the TANNOY DC12i and 6i or inwall for surround can go in larger rooms (20-40sq meters)
(subwoofers: either their 15" or JBLPRO or Velodyne etc. "plural")
the JBL PRO well there's no limits and large choices.

there's a french brand than probably no one knows here called GKF www.g-k-f.com
they have great success in France with custom installers.
large choices of high sensitive speakers (they were former Altec importers).

Does the JBL version of the lexicon support LPCM over HDMI?
You can contact your friends at HDMI and determine if 1.2 supports LPCM and at what bandwidth.

The only difference between the Lexicon MC12HD and the Sythesis unit is the color of the face plate and the name engraved thereon.

You can contact your friends at HDMI and determine if 1.2 supports LPCM and at what bandwidth.

The only difference between the Lexicon MC12HD and the Sythesis unit is the color of the face plate and the name engraved thereon.

All versions of HDMI will support 8 channels of 24/192 LPCM. However, assuming the Synthesis unit is a pure rebadge, then the MC12HD can only handle 6 channels of 24/192 LPCM despite the fact that it is supposed to be HDMI 1.1. This is one of my main issues with it, and why I haven't pulled the trigger on an upgrade from the MC12 to the HD. Since it is only HDMI 1.1, it also will not accept a bitstream of any of the lossless HD audio codecs.

It is currently 1.2 (if you installed the upgrade) or purchased recently and the two units are identical (other than the face plate). You are correct as well in that it will not accept a bitstream of the lossless audio codecs.

Since it is only HDMI 1.1, it also will not accept a bitstream of any of the lossless HD audio codecs.
What would it do with the bitstream ever if it could accept it?

What would it do with the bitstream ever if it could accept it?

Nothing. But I presume that Lex wouldn't even program the MC12HD to decode TrueHD or DTSHDMA if the HDMI spec they adopted wouldn't pass it anyway. You're pretty much stuck with getting source components (i.e. BD players) that will decode the codecs and pass them as LPCM via HDMI, although even if there is a 7.1 track, you are SOL and will only get 5.1 via the HDMI on the MC12HD (which can then get converted to 7.1 via Logic7 or PLIIx).

Genelec is an option (a good one). Get a more current, fresh surround processor, along with something along the lines of the QSC DSP322UA ... less money better performance.

Dennis,

Tell me more about the QSC DSP322UA.

Not a lot of info out on this yet.. Is this like a DSP-4 with 8 inputs (rather than 2)??

Likely it is improved over the DSP-4 but how?? With all 8 channels in one box, calibrations would certainly be easier / better)..

http://www.qscaudio.com/products/network/dsp/dsp_322ua.php

What I really want for Christmas (Bob Lee) is an SPDIF in/out model.

Lower noise floor to begin with. Addressable memory settings. Multiple unit can communicate and coordinate... so with six side surround speakers and five subs, two units can behave as one. The DSP-4 (two in two out) requires you cascade multiple DSP-4s when you go beyond two subs or two side surrounds per side.

You can contact your friends at HDMI and determine if 1.2 supports LPCM and at what bandwidth.

The only difference between the Lexicon MC12HD and the Sythesis unit is the color of the face plate and the name engraved thereon.

Dennis Erskine, you said "The SD40HD processor is the Lexicon MC12HD which is NOT HDMI 1.3b and currently does not support any of the high resolution lossless audio formats." which is wrong since it can accept 5.1 LPCM over HDMI.

DW, it's kind of obvious that he means TruHD and DTS-MA. Otherwise, the word 'lossless' is redundant.

DW, it's kind of obvious that he means TruHD and DTS-MA. Otherwise, the word 'lossless' is redundant.

Its still lossless, just because you can not bitstream the lossless codec does not take away anything. But I know what you are getting at.

Digital,

It was the Def. (no pun intended) Install series using Lab.Gruppen amps (C-Series as I recall, lower end LG amp) and some tricked out tweaking using Dolby Lake processing (same company, TC Group, owns them all).

You also have a PM.

Mike

Klipsch THX system in this segment? Not really a comparable product. No thanks. Not by price tag, but certainly by performance. But scale counts, and Synthesis scaling to room size provides flexibility. You're welcome anyway. ;)

Not by price tag, but certainly by performance. But scale counts, and Synthesis scaling to room size provides flexibility. You're welcome anyway. ;)

I once got "ripped a new one" when I made an off-hand remark about Paul Klipsch. It was about the man and not about his pioneering products, but the retribution was swift and severe. He was a brilliant man and apparently a decent human being, including a sense of humor. However, the guy I made the comment to was having none of that. To him, Klipsch was a god.

I have a lot of respect for Klipsch products, old and new, but if you omit the legacy, special order stuff from the catalog, there's not much there today that I'm interested in. Still, it outperforms some of the much pricier boutique gear, no doubt.

James B. Lansing and his JBL brand get ripped pretty well by a lot of people today, and some of it is understandable. It's entertaining to see JBL's top gear get ridiculed in light of the gimmicky stuff that some people tout as superior. I assume those same people laugh at me for liking it.

I spent several thousand dollars listening before buying, including flying to other locations for auditions. I ended up with Synthesis.

No doubt there are much better systems, even in the Synthesis line, but for my money I got what represented the best system. I can't imagine spending the kind of money some folks do. It's unrealistic to think that any normal person would be able to, especially to end up with some of the atrocious environments I've seen and heard. :eek:

There truly is no accounting for taste.

I've owned a Syn system as well...(don't any more), customer service was non-existent. I do know much of what is a Syn system today is different from a few years ago. None-the-less, it is alot of money with an outdated SDEC and a sorely in need of an update surround processor. I'm not telling anyone not to get one, just there may be better choices out there until the electronic basis of the entire system is somewhat more contemporary.

Not by price tag, but certainly by performance.

Eh. Maybe if Synthesis were a $3000 system. I never could understand the attraction to the Klipsch THX system. Reminded me of a hopped up monster truck in subtlety and involvement.

Klipsch THX system in this segment? Not really a comparable product. No thanks.
I strongly disagree!
http://www.klipsch.com/images/352/400x400.aspx

Eh. Maybe if Synthesis were a $3000 system. I never could understand the attraction to the Klipsch THX system. Reminded me of a hopped up monster truck in subtlety and involvement.Spoken like a true elitist. Are you speaking of the Klipsch THX Ultra system of the '90s? Your comparison to Synthesis would be reasonable, if that is the case.Reminded me of a hopped up monster truck in subtlety and involvement. Many would use the same description for the sound of a large pro cinema stack in any home theater size room. The current Klipsch THX Ultra2 system voices extremely closely to the Grand Cinema array perfornance in a fine cinema (a photo of which Ray has provided). The history of the R&D of the system is pretty remarkable. It's original pass and investment was abandoned, re-started with a new project engineer, and the Grand Cinema being its new performance reference. Now if the Grand Cinema in a fine theater does not fit your ear, then neither will the home products which are designed to emulate it. A lot of folks like that. To each his own.

If you can fit one of those in your car, you can fit 5000 subs in your theater. ;)

If you can fit one of those in your car, you can fit 5000 subs in your theater. ;)

Roof Rack and Bungee cords my man.:p

If you can fit one of those in your car, you can fit 5000 subs in your theater. ;)But how many can you fit in your mode of aerospace transportation? ;) "Dudes, this is your captain speaking. A flock of geese just flamed out both engines. Start jettisoning all those damned subs, and find me a piece of six or a convenient river now!"

I've owned a Syn system as well...(don't any more), customer service was non-existent. I do know much of what is a Syn system today is different from a few years ago. None-the-less, it is alot of money with an outdated SDEC and a sorely in need of an update surround processor. I'm not telling anyone not to get one, just there may be better choices out there until the electronic basis of the entire system is somewhat more contemporary.

Dennis

You're an AVS Moderator, an AVS Gold Club Member, and a practicing professional, all impressive credentials, none of which I have. Yet I will offer you a different perspective in the interest of friendly dialog.

There are five factors that are important to me. I'll pose them as questions.
1. Do I find the sound irresistible?
2. Will it integrate well in my space?
3. Can it reproduce my current, extensive media collection with a high level of accuracy and control?
4. Is there anything looming on the horizon that I'm interested in that will be impossible to integrate once I make the choice?
5. Am I willing to spend money on technology I don't intend to use in the hope that someday I might?

Your personal and professional measures are different than mine, though we may ask ourselves similar questions as we process a decision. What I have done is answer these questions (and lesser ones, to be sure) for myself, spend a decent amount of money and time seeking a system in my price range that meets those answers, and purchase it.

I'll spend another $25k on room reconstruction and sound treatments and a few grand more on some source upgrades.

For the amount of money I planned to spend and for the intended uses I planned to put it to, there was nothing else I wanted at the end of my search. Nothing else was close. The SAM1HF and SAM2LF modules were without peer.

I didn't get the SDP-40HD; I opted for the lesser SDP-5 as I couldn't justify the extra expense. If at some time down the road TrueHD or other options become widely accepted, adopted, and distributed, then I can easily incorporate the necessary equipment, which will be improved and advanced at that time. I'm not willing to gamble on it now. I've done enough of that in the past, and I'm not willing to buy something solely to be able to say I have the latest and greatest.

Your opinions are reasoned and based on experience, and I respect that. They do not reflect my priorities in making this decision, which after long deliberation I am happy to have made. Fortunately for both of us you will never have to come to my house to listen to it. :p

Actually, I'd probably enjoy a listening session in your room. I'm always up for that. Nor would I dispute anyone's personal choices with respect to their room, or equipment. As with my clients, I'll make my suggestions, provide the pros and cons of the various choices before them, and then move on to the next challenge.

I know they are working on improving the currency (an aviation term) of their pre-pro and the SDEC...we'll see when it hits the street! (I still am annoyed at their customer no-service; but, obviously others mileage has varied.)

Spoken like a true elitist.

No, not at all. I just thought they were way overpriced, more so than normal Klipsch and that's saying a lot ;)

I am pretty confident I'd feel the same about the JBL system, but I haven't heard it, so I give it the benefit of the doubt. For dedicated HT purposes, my new favorite is the PSB Synchrony One system. It will kill the Klipsch system and costs about the same.

I've owned a Syn system as well...(don't any more), customer service was non-existent.

Must be the same service department as Revel. I've been trying to get a grill and some spikes for Ultimas for 6 months now.

No, not at all. I just thought they were way overpriced, more so than normal Klipsch and that's saying a lot ;)

I am pretty confident I'd feel the same about the JBL system, but I haven't heard it, so I give it the benefit of the doubt. For dedicated HT purposes, my new favorite is the PSB Synchrony One system. It will kill the Klipsch system and costs about the same. Thank you for the extra info. In comparable environments the new JBL Syn and Klipsch THX U2 probably have similar sound. I would guess that the Klipsch would probably sound less aggressive than the JBL Syn. That could also be said of the Klipsch THX U2 compared to most of the Klipsch products. There is a significant level of refinement to them, especially as horn designs go. Certainly the PSBs will have a very different sound character...as do Revels. I have an associate who looked into the Klipsch, but prefered the Revel sound to which he was accustomed. All fine products, each with its own signature character that provides us with variety. :)

Well, you know, the sound I like is the *right* sound ;)

Must be the same service department as Revel. I've been trying to get a grill and some spikes for Ultimas for 6 months now.

I'm sure you already know this, but Harman is in the process of contraction, and many product lines are moving to the Northridge facility. That's no excuse for Revel, but perhaps an explanation.

I understand there is a wholesale retooling of the parts warehousing and distribution system. I've been waiting almost two months for a single output transistor for one of my HTPS400 subs. The drive from my house to the warehouse for this would take 35 minutes on an average LA day, but even though the system says they have it, the humans don't know where it is. So proximity does not help.

OTOH, this Harman move made it possible for me to get a sensational price on a system and move up from what I thought I could afford to a discernibly better system. Support by the Synthesis dealer has been stellar. Service? We'll see.

Well, you know, the sound I like is the *right* sound ;)As in 'whatever floats your boat.' ;)

Thank you for the extra info. In comparable environments the new JBL Syn and Klipsch THX U2 probably have similar sound. I would guess that the Klipsch would probably sound less aggressive than the JBL Syn. That could also be said of the Klipsch THX U2 compared to most of the Klipsch products. There is a significant level of refinement to them, especially as horn designs go. Certainly the PSBs will have a very different sound character...as do Revels. I have an associate who looked into the Klipsch, but prefered the Revel sound to which he was accustomed. All fine products, each with its own signature character that provides us with variety. :)

The Klipsch THX Ultra II system is a little on the dry side, very dynamic, intense and matter of fact. The system when properly integrated into a media room which is fairly easy for most A/V professionals provides 95% of what Home Theater enthusiasts are looking for in a multi-channel home theater system.... WOW! The system does that without even breaking a sweat.

The Klipsch THX Ultra II system is a little on the dry side, very dynamic, intense and matter of fact. The system when properly integrated into a media room which is fairly easy for most A/V professionals provides 95% of what Home Theater enthusiasts are looking for in a multi-channel home theater system.... WOW! The system does that without even breaking a sweat. Good description. I've lived with it for a few years and heard it in a number of types of rooms from reference dedicated rooms to multi-purpose family media rooms. Very versitile, but always impressive.

For the sake of staying on topic, I've heard a number of Synthesis systems that were extremely impressive, as well.

I hesitate to do this, but what the heck. :rolleyes:

After several months of DIY construction and consultation with an LA-area HT installation and design company whose direct services I couldn't afford, the room was finally finished in late June. There were lots of misadventures along the way as original construction surprises cropped up with regularity. We rethought the design at least five times.

The entire project, I was disciplined enough to keep all the Synthesis® gear in the original boxes. Even though I'd gone all the way to Tennessee to audition the system, the many negative comments here had worked to produce in me a sense of FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) over the intervening period.

The designer had spec'd where to put the absorbers, diffusers, bass traps, surrounds, etc. He had me build a proscenium so all three mains would be at identical height and distance. He had me install two dedicated 20A circuits, run the speaker cables in the walls and away from all power, etc., spec'd the racks and closet location. He talked me into buying a Stewart Luxus Deluxe StudioTek 130 microperf screen so the center was behind it.

Then he came to do the rack equipment install, and I finally took everything out of the boxes. It was exciting of course, and when we finally fired it up, I was wowed by how good it sounded out of the box. That was more of a testament to the room, which had really taken on quite an attractive, audible shift in quality as the treatments went up. I remember thinking that my room "sounded" better than the demo room I had listened in, which had sounded hard and very live the moment I walked into it.

A week later the JBL Synthesis® calibration took place, eight hours or so of mind-numbing noise as everything was checked, re-checked, then checked again. It was interesting to see the curves change as the proprietary DACS unit did its job under the control of a guy who had set up rooms all over the US and Europe. Then it was all uploaded to the SDEC.

When he ran sound checks with real music, I was almost misty eyed as I heard how much, how wonderfully it had improved. Sure, a lot of it was subjective wish fulfillment, but I also had the screen shots of the before, during, and after curves for each individual speaker and the system as a whole as proof of what had transpired.

As a rule I have not and do not like horn-based designs very much. Yet, I've got horns across the front, and they are simply amazing. They don't sound like horns; they don't sound like direct radiators (or ribbons, or 'stats, or planes); they sound like music. :)

For those who were concerned that I had purchased a system they didn't like, perhaps based on their outdated experience, I can reassure you, it's the best hi-fi $$$ I've ever invested. For those who wonder if JBL Synthesis® is a legitimate option, my answer is obvious: yes. For me, it was the best option of all I heard, and the end result was even more than I expected.

Even if some folks want to continue to downplay JBL synthesis® and feel that my deliberate choice was poor, perhaps we can all agree on three things to get the most out of a higher end system:

1) You need a properly prepared and treated room. If you can't afford to have it done professionally, at least pay for a good consultant, and do what he tells you.
2) You need great equipment that meets your intended and anticipated uses. Focus on your needs rather than overly depending on the opinions, often compelling, of others whose needs may not reflect yours.
3) You need a great calibration. For most of us, this means paying a pro.

Congratulations. Your happiness is what matters.

I fully agree with numbers one and two. As to three there are some high end equalizer systems that will do an amazing job automatically. Expert in a box.

Enjoy your new HT in good health. ;)

Sounds like you got what you want, and more importantly, you got the EXPERIENCE you were after - not a collection of individual parts that look good on paper.

Sounds like you got what you want, and more importantly, you got the EXPERIENCE you were after - not a collection of individual parts that look good on paper.

That's a brilliant statement! Experience is precisely the right word.

What Syn speakers did you wind up with, filecat?

That's a brilliant statement! Experience is precisely the right word.

What Syn speakers did you wind up with, filecat?

It's the Synthesis® One Array, which in my case includes these:

3 SAM1HF and 3 SAM2LF units across the front
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=SAM1HF&Language=ENG&Country=NL&Region=EUROPE
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=SAM2LF&Language=ENG&Country=NL&Region=EUROPE

4 S4Ai surrounds
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=S4AI&Language=ENG&Country=NL&Region=EUROPE

2 S1S-EX subs
http://www.jblsynthesis.com/products/product_detail.aspx?prod=S1S-EX&Language=ENG&Country=NL&Region=EUROPE

Outstanding. I'm sure they are spectacular. There are very good reasons for that. Take a look at the two quick spec links, one for yours, and one for the SAM3. Amazingly, truely detailed data graphs are provided for these; on/off axis, total sound power, and directivity index. Try getting that for 99% of other consumer speakers. Look how incredibly smooth they are even off axis at the crossover range.

http://manuals.harman.com/JBL/HOM/Quick%20Specs/SAM1HF_SAM2LF%20QSpecs.pdf

http://manuals.harman.com/JBL/HOM/Quick%20Specs/SAM1HF_SAM2LF%20QSpecs.pdf

Certainly my dream system. Enjoy!