I'm writing this to lessen the steepness of the learning curve of anyone attempting to build a home audio system. I just completed the indoor portion of my sound system, and if I remember right I had to send my stereo receiver to New York at my own expense three times for warranty work before the warranty ran out. All because I didn't know enough to use an impedance balancer when using more speakers than the receiver was rated for. Now my nearest neighbor 1/4 mile away can hear my music on calm evenings while it sounds clear as a bell in my house!
- If you live in the styx like I do, shop online. If you live near stores, choose one with a good reputation.
- Join Last.fm online, and go through the trouble of installing the Last.fm proxy. It's well worth the time and trouble, and the current proxy designer even coached me through setting up mine; and would quite possibly do the same for you. If you choose to play the proxy through Winamp, get Stereo Tool 6.21. It's a free Winamp plugin, and will make your music studio quality.
- Join Pandora. It is very similar to Last.fm, and if you don't install the Last.fm proxy it probably has better sound quality.