Any one want a laugh????

Kirk, while i agree with both your and Tim's point of view, i have to say that i don't know of too many people with systems that can do, let alone sustain, 120 db's at their listening position. Brief peaks don't count in my book : ) Sean
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I trust their political veiws also, ha ha ha!

Consumer report's audio issue is always a good one too. They state that you get no audible advantage with separates versus a receiver. And this wasn't implicitly stated, they flat out said it. I think they acknowledged it measured better (across the board in every way) but you can't hear the difference. And the thing that really blew my mind--they actually rated the Bose lifestyle 3 piece system jobby as Number 1 in their face-off/showdown--above the NHT Superzero/subsat system (got like #3)! They can't be listening to the stuff and whatever measurements they take have to be useless as anything (improperly taken and improperly interpreted). I just don't see (or hear) how a couple of 2.5" drivers equivalent to what you find in your TV can be "high-fidelity" and pass subjective and objective criteria--its...??? And mind you I'm very conservative as far as audiophiles go-I'll pay thousands for a piece of gear, but I don't/won't buy fancy audio cables, tweako potions, vibration controls, etc. I got kimber 4pr running from my hybrid vacuum tube/solid-state amplifier and that's only because it was free with a previous speaker purchase.

I think the consumer report's report of Bose is political. The two share some history. As for sustaining 120db, there are plenty of auto systems that can do it.

Sean, you've forgotten about Cerwin-Vega--their top-of-the-line's usually carry 100+ db sensitivities and no less than 4 ohm load for $700 a pair (3 way w/ 15" low frequency driver). 100 half decent watts should get your there.