wonderfulelectric: OMG. After looking at other recent threads regarding B&O surround sound. It is incredible that B&O is still trying to minimize outward compatibilty. It's like as if they are trying to chase potential customers away. What are they thinking? Weird. In my opinion all the active loudspeakers should have XLR and the normal

Maybe you are just used to a slightly softer sound? I can't say I've listened to BeoLab 5s for extended periods, although I am very accustomed to their sound. It may be down to the volume more than anything. BeoLab 5s have the ability to play tremendously loud without sounding like they're working at all. Hence, what sounds like 'normal' listening levels

Not really no. 1080p may have advantages with Blu-Ray, but the picture on a 720p BeoVision 9 is still streets ahead of anything I've seen from the competition. IMO the upgrade to 1080p was more due to market pressure than for technical reasons. 1080p only really becomes a big advantage when you reach 65"+ IMO.

Unfortunately it does matter massively. 2L + 2R isn't surround sound, it's just more stereo. There are many, many reasons why this will do little more than open up a whole pandora's box of acoustic issues...

bayerische: Buena Vista social club Buena Vista Social Club on BeoLab 5s is quite frankly jaw-dropping. The imaging and space in their recordings is stunning!

£12,000 worth of loudspeakers and you're wanting to use a reasonably priced pre-amp/processor? Fair enough! Can't fault Rotel's offerings. The RSP-1069 is a very good receiver. I would still want to be using a better receiver however. I think your best bet would be a BeoSystem 3. You're going to have fun and games getting everything to integrate otherwise

Where did you get that information from? If anything, B&O have often seemed to roll-off the high end slightly in order to make the speakers more comfortable to listen to over extended periods.

It's not just 'a fancy MP3 player'. Apple TV is just like any other system out there, you scroll through a list of music with a mediocre-at-best remote and press 'go'. BeoSound 5 is nothing like this! It's also a hifi product in the truest sense of the word.

An Avant would allow you to do surround sound with your current BeoLabs. I would hardly call an Avant expensive. An Avant + a pair of 4000s can cost a little as £2000 on the second hand market. I wouldn't really want to compromise what you own already...

How about an Avant?