Thanks very much for the comprehensive reply @3dit0r.

WRGT MQA I would love to be able to listen to it in its purest form, I was hoping that I could use something like a Bluesound Node 2i or any other MQA supporting streamer and use this as a feed into the 861. Not sure if that would get me the purest MQA experience, I would be interested in knowing how good such a setup would be. That way I could get MQA as well as a 5.1 (or possibly 4.1 as I am going to struggle to place a centre).

I have been to Meridian in Huntingdon and listened to the setup in the main cinema. This has 3 8000s and an 861 (I assume). You would hope that it had been room corrected, but I didn't ask. It sounded amazing.

I am not really concerned about quality or support issues anymore after yours and others feedback, research and obviously the announcement today of new 8000XEs.

With regards to my proposed setup, I am planning to have a dropdown screen. I want the placement of the speakers to be either side of a fireplace and the screen will drop down in front of the fireplace. It may well obscure the speakers, but I am planning on having a acoustically transparent screen so even if the 8000s are behind the screen they should still sound good. I am more concerned about having the best placement for 2 channel even if there are compromises on the multi channel.

Thanks again.