Actives. Dare I ask?

http://atcforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1387

You'd still need a pre-amp of some description though to accommodate multiple/digital sources, and doubled the number of anologue I/Cs required in the process.

http://atcforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=607

That first ATC set up is beautiful and something I'd love. Tbh I haven't bothered googling for prices, as I can imagine its well out of my league. 

That centre is huge. 

Really, really not cheap if you have floorstanding fronts and an active centre, plus their c4 or c6 sub. You could do it cheaper with second hand fronts or standmounts, but you're still talking many thousands. My own (passive) c3c is big, bigger than any gap left in standard av units that I could find, and the smallest active centre the c3ca is substantially bigger again. I don't really know any small or cheap active centres, so options are to buy second hand (tho not many come up) use a standmount centre (on its side if you have to) or use a passive centre amped by an av receiver. AlmaataKZ I think uses ATC's passive c1c like this, with active 50s as fronts. 

Indeed, I have active 2.1 connected to dac/pre and passive centre (atc c1c) and rears (old monitor audio monitor 3) connected to pre outs of the avr. Works well enough.

I would love to have an active multichannel setup but I would only do it during a new build or refurbishment and even then would only go for small-ish centre and rears e.g. C3ca maximum and some simple two-way actives for rears, most likely built into walls with all the cabling hidden and pre wired power switches. Too messy otherwise (unless you have a den where it is ok).

Currently the rear cables are hidden under the fitted carpet - did that when it was being replaced, five years before I even moved into the flat.

I'm getting a sense of deja vu.

If you were prepared to have a redundant speaker, you could have a fully wireless active setup in the form of the Xeos.

A pair of Xeo 5s for fronts, Xeo 3s for the rears and another Xeo 3 single for the centre, or use the pair fed from a signal splitter from the centre channel. A Dynaudio sub would compliment the setup.

That would not be cheap though, coming in at around £6K

I think that Dynaudio could offer a special HC package that included a 5.1 receiver instead of having to use three separate receivers.

What's the budget?

Is that the OP or me ?

im guessing the loft conversion will be anything up to 30k, if I do it I don't want to skimp. 

Id like to think I'd get myself a pretty special HC set up for 10-12k to include any pro installation if necessary. 

My thinking is PJ - fixed screen - BDP - processor - 5 x actives & 1 or 2 subs. 

If AVI for example were my preferred choice, I'd expect some lead time, as it would be an unusual request, if indeed they'd do it 5 x ADM9 slaves. 

But as its 18 - 24 months away who knows what might come up in the meantime. 

This would be a good start, at an extremely reasonable price: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ATC-Concept-4-C4Ca-ACTIVE-POWERED-Centre-Speaker-/111011136958?pt=UK_AudioVideoElectronics_HomeAudioHiFi_HiFiSpeakers&hash=item19d8c785be

Just stumbled across the M-Patch 5.1 controller. That would make things easier.

One Blu-Ray player

One controller

Six actives of some description.

Easy.

Maybe I should keep a hold of my BM5As for now.