Scaling down

my experience w/ a small(er) system is different & more positive that yours: my bedroom system costs <$2K total & I use it very, very often playing my iPod, FM radio, Pandora & some CDs thru it. I listen for hours on end with a great deal of satisfaction. It does not sound like my reference system but, nonetheless, it's very enjoyable.

Not having a really big system, I'd have to say I could be happy if I did some careful and considerate shopping. There were some great sounding, smaller systems at the Newport Audio Show but they weren't cheap.

It would all depend on the size you're re referring to.

All the best,
Nonoise

my take on this is that having just one system doesn't work for me. so i have 4 systems of varying costs and applications. all are very enjoyeable.

"Scaling down" for any other reason than desparate need for money, or moving to a smaller space, is rather foolish IMO.
First, if all the person wants is different sound, then just dumping everything and starting over is silly.
This is the "Gee I liked music when i had a simple setup, so I will go back to that" syndrome. (it does not work...))

Thinking this is too much stuff,, then selling it is taking a huge money bath, plus the wasted time. The smaller system will not please anyway, and eventually the owner of the downsized will go right back to what they had before.. After the fixation with whatever made them downsize passes.

Personally I would suggest just 'ignoring' the stuff. Think of it as another pile of junk you own.. so what. Get over the emotional issue making you want to get rid of the source of the irritation, instead of finding the reason for it being irritating.
The most common so called reasons are displeasure at the result: that is you are not happy with the sound, even though you SPENT $$$, so in a pissed off mood you want to sell it all.
Or, You find a new partner, who does not like the stuff.

Other reasons I have seen are going deaf(er) and out of self spite selling everything (this is the cutting off your nose to spite your face method)

Having to move to a (much) smaller space: this is the one valid reason I can see for moving to a smaller setup.
Though really one can have a pair of giant monoblocks and huge speakers in an 11" by 12" space easy..
The only problem with big electronics in a small spavce may be the amperage available may not be adequate.

So you can see, I am not big on tossing years of effort chasing some pie in the sky ideal of a smaller is better...

As i dream of bigger amps and speakers...

I guess I should have given more of an explanation. I do have three systems if you include the garage one, but the main system in the living room takes up allot of space and we do a fair bit of entertaining. So a more unobtrusive system would better. Moving the turntable, records cleaning machine, etc, etc to the lake spot helped quite a bit but there is still a ton of stuff, 1400 pounds actually.