all i can say is i listened to creek destiny + harbeth speakers and it's awesome...

What is excellent is the sound stage, warm sound , very cool , COOL is the best description....

-- transparent hifi costing 20 k more are not cool compaired, except for tubes


Should I be looking at smaller bookshelves or can it handle the bigger stuff :

i would go for medium size speakers, bookshelves might need a more powerfull like the destiny, huge speakers are unecessary unless you want to transform your house into a dance club or you have 7000 foot square house