(April 12, 2016 at 4:54 am)Cthulhu Dreaming Wrote: Let's say a grand for the receiver and 2+1 speakers where the +1 is either a center channel or sub.
I would look at the Andrew Jones designed ELAC Debut speaker series. They are stellar for the money. Andrew Jones used to work for Pioneer and designed their $80K TAD reference line of speakers. He also designed a very well received line of inexpensive Pioneer speakers, but a couple years ago he went to ELAC. His ELAC offerings look better and sounds better than the pioneer line.
For a receiver, I would look at the Yamaha RX-V479. They usually go for $400, but I've seen them as low as $300.
If I were starting out and had around $1000. I'd get the RX-V479 ($300), and a pair of the ELAC Debut F5 floorstanders ($560).
You could then either get the ELAC Debut C5 Center ($180), or a subwoofer. A subwoofer is going to cost you more, and for that I would probably go with a HSU Research STF-2 ($360). The receiver, F5's and Sub would run you around $1200. The receiver, F5's, and C5 center Would run you $1040
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