I hope I made good choices with new gear. Comments?

I think AI is far from irrelevant if using it as a guide for further research and not the final arbiter of the decision. Been a big help to me in many areas of life, including researching audio gear. 

@toddsyr  -

Good morning.  It is very much like adopting a new pet (cat or dog, your choice) that you have been assured gets along with cats, dogs, and kids and now you are walking through your front door and you are about to see how it all works out.  

So, time to live with what you put together.  Start to learn what works and what doesn’t work ... what needs to be tweaked ... what finds its way into a secondary system ... what do you really listen to (77" screen TVs, like Cane Corsos, tend to dominate a space) ... etc.   

Stop relying on ChatGPT, unless you’re lonely or require manual stimulation.  

Listen and live with it for a good while.  Those are the only ways  For all I know, it will all come together nicely.  Or maybe, you’re buying pet gates to separate the upset animals.   You sunk some good cash into this, enjoy it now.  

Rich 

cleeds- Yes, it was pretty obvious AI wants to make you feel good, LOL. I did use a few though and one of them helped me to decide to use a better interconnect for CD players. It pointed out that weak spot so it’s not totally flattering. 

sls883- Thank you for the compliment. Yes, some of the AI sites also said my speakers are the weak point now. I’ve been looking into that for a while now and there just isn’t anything out there that appeals to me for what I would be willing to spend. Most "full range" speakers do not go nearly as low in frequency compared to what I already have. Besides the JBL L100t3’s, I have a pair of JBL L100t’s. Subwoofers to go with new speakers? They would crowd the room too much. The next upgrade will be a new CD player but it will have to wait a bit. Streaming? Nah, it’s just not for me. I have a decent CD collection and it’s what I like. I don’t have a lot of listening time so I already know what I want to hear when I do "tune out" and I already own it. 

mahler123- Validation? Well, yeah, sort of. Like I said, "synergy" is a big concern and I just want opinions on whether I goofed on that or not. We all hear different so the actual sound will be for me to decide if I like it. I’m pretty sure I’ll like it though. I agree, listen to it for awhile and just enjoy it before making permanent decisions. All part of the process. It won’t be all set up for a couple more weeks though. 

larsman- Well stated! It is but one of many tools I used. I received information from the forums here, talked to salespeople, read reviews and specs, talked to others in person, etc. 

rar1- Yes, that is the plan. Once everything is all here and setup, just listen to it for a few weeks and let it soak in. Exact speaker positioning will take some time too. As I say, the AI is but one of many resources I put to use. The more information the better. 

@toddsyr -"

I'm still basically a novice "audiophile" that did a crapload of research the last week or so. "

Welcome to the club! You are doing what everyone who has gotten into this hobby does. And you are doing it exactly the way we all do-"crapload of research." If possible go out and audition equipment after reading about it. Even if it's not what you want to buy this helps you train your ear and provide clarity and knowledge with the direction you want to go in.

Enjoy the journey as you enjoy your music.

David

I did read that the upper frequencies of your JBL were somewhat tamed by a change to the crossover.  As others suggested, give them a try.  Your room and speaker placement will be important.  I'm always amazed by some of the photos that I see of people's rooms and the placement of their speakers.

I think you'd be surprised by streaming, but i understand.  I have hundreds of cds and still play them on occasion.  My Denon cd player gives my streamer/dac a run for the money in terms of sound quality.  My Marantz did not.  It was a $600 player, so not high end.