Speakers for Home Theater/Audio for 8K

Thanks for the responses. I did have a chance to listen to the Aerials and I am duly impressed. Thanks Sedona for the excellent recommendations.

Your answers touch upon a debate which appears to be prevalent on the boards, ie, should one purchase a separate amp/preamp processor or is a good receiver (like the Denon 5803) sufficient? Some alternatives that have been given to me include later upgrading the system with the Denon being used as a preamp and another amplifier added. It almost seems an anathema to use a Denon with an excellent speaker system like the Aerials as Ellery911 seems to suggest.

Thoughts?

Well, this is just my personal opinion, but if you placed the Denon and any number of separate amp/preamp combos that equal the price of the Denon behind a curtain and asked twenty people to give their opinions, the majority wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them. I owned the B&K AVR 305 receiver and thought it was a fantastic piece of equipment. I also owned the Bel Canto 200.2 digital amp and thought that was great, but not so much that I could tell the difference between them. Again, just my opinion. I would stay with the Denon, at least for now, and focus on getting the right speakers.

Aerial Acoustic 7b or 8b, CC3b center, and SR3 surrounds would be an absolute killer home theater package. A couple pairs of used 7b's went for around $2500 this week on Audiogon and there is someone currently selling a pr of the 7b and CC3b - all in natural cherry - for $4500 obo - personally I would offer $3500 and then find a used/demo pr of the SR3's. Go to the Aerial website and check out their reviews for 2-channel and as a home theater package.

Unfortunately at this time I cannot afford the Aerial's, but I am also a fan of the Von Schweikert speakers. I've owned them in the past (2 channel) and will again in the very near future. I have to believe their home theater setup would also be outstanding.

Keep us informed as you go along.

If upgrading is something you are going to do in the future, then by all means...get the best speakers you can. Personally, I am a fan of B&W and if you like the N802 then I say go for it. Just remember to bring the speakers out into the room so that the television is not between them destroying the soundstage...Enjoy...

An audiophile friend insists I consider the Linkwitz Orion. He visited Siegfried's house and listened to them. This choice may seem tangential but I was wondering if any of you or anyone else had an opinion about these unique speakers? It appears the speakers are more for audio and not HT, I don't see any center or surrounds. It also comes with its own amp.

I agree completely with Ellery911 - whichever speakers you purchase, keep them as far out into the room as you can - I also agree the B&W 802N is a great speaker - a few used prs on Audiogon are currently going for $5500.

My thought process is this: if you can get the used 7b and cc3b on Audiogon for say $4000 - a used pr of the SR3 for $1500 - your whole surround system would cost what one pair of the B&W 802's would cost.
And, if your budget is $8000 - that would leave you with $2500 - IF you wanted to purchase a separate amp right now, upscale Audio has a demo B&K Ref 7270 MK II for $2300 - as a 7 channel amp it would allow you to expand, or you could purchase a beefy 5 channel now. There are other great 5 channel amps available - Bel Canto, Bryston etc. I can't ever see the need for 7 speakers - again my personal opinion.
I would still wait until after you try the Denon.
keep us informed.