drummerman:
I've yet to hear a home cinema system that plays music as good as dedicated 2ch (2.1) hifi. I also yet have to hear a dedicated stereo system that makes good music using Monitor Audio's lower range speakers ... I can only imagine how music would sound with AV stuff plus MA silver though I'm sure they are adequate for HT.
As to 'an open' musical performance, I'd urge you to put something like PMC's baby DB1i or any Dynaudio speaker next to an RS6 with a good source/amp and it will make the MA's sound veiled and shut in. Trevor79 apparently has 'modified' his so perhaps they sound different. I hope so for him.
Having said all this, I haven't heard as many AV systems as stereo ones and
there are quite a few here that seem to like the RS6. I've also read some good things lately about onkyo's top receivers though they are around 1.5k and that is serious integrated amplifier price territory but I could'nt comment on which one is better as I haven't heard the onkyo. To dismiss these top AV receivers out of hand would probably be wrong but I'd love to read a comparison between those top amps and similarely priced 2 channel amplifiers.
My opinion only
and you may disagree.
A well considered post Drummerman and against the PMC's you are quite right.
Without modifications and system tweaks unless you have extremely deep pockets it is not easy getting a decent Cyrus stereo performance out of an AV system.
The MA RS series are a well designed speaker range that are made down to a very competitive price IMO. But the old adage 'you get what you pay for' certainly applies to the budget crossover components. Spend a little money on replacing the foam with long haired wool and using Clarity SA's and Mundorf Foil coils in the crossovers and you have a high end sound with clarity, timing, pace, and detail ousing out and hanging notes from a piano (for instance) in the air.
AV amps big problem is in dealing with 7x200w and the smearing effect it has on the pre amp sections. You don't need to mess about inside the box, but you do need to spend money on proper mains conditioning, and I am not talking about a lead, although they help.
Feed a cheap DAC with a clean signal and it will be a big improvement, feed a good DAC with a clean signal and it will blow you away.
Pity you can't come and have a listen to my system.