Home Theatre Audio Questions

[zebrahead]

Hi guys! I am COMPLETELY out of the loop with home audio and I was just looking for a decent setup using the components I currently have already. My current rig is laughable at most and I'd like to junk the old wooden speakers for some decent sounding ones! I guess this is more of a "what would YOU do" thread. I'd like to keep cost down (but not too far that I'm cheaping out on anything) but I don't need something that's going to shake the neighbors either, just something that sounds good. anyways this is what I'm working with.

Toshiba 27" Cinema Series TV: Link to TV
Pioneer VSX-815: Link to Receiver

Any recommendations would be awesome, thanks a lot!

[zebrahead]

Oh! and I forgot to mention, I'm not necessarily looking for a surround system, I'm even fine if a couple of great sounding bookshelf speakers (with decent bass) on some stands will do the trick. but once again, I'm not sure if that works with the receiver I have...

sorry for the ignorance, i'm a speaker n00b!

[DigitalDemon]

It pretty much comes down to price vs quality. There are a few exceptions here and there. When I pieced my system together, I looked for the cheapest best sounding speakers i could buy, kinda an oxymoron. Heres what I settled on, although im sure others will recommend good choices as well:

1. Polk audio R50 floorspeaker - awesome range 40hz-24khz, bass is tight and clean, even comes with veneer. Its very bright, but after burn in the high end settles to where it should. for $120 a pair if your lucky, these are an incredible value. most the time the price hovers around $250-$500 a pair.

2. Polk audio r150 bookshelf - more awesome range 60hz-24khz, although a bit lacking in bass, but is expected for bookshelf speakers. Also a bit bright until after burn in. Find these at outpost.com for $50 a pair!

Your gonna need a subwoofer too. I havent decided on mine yet cause I want a properly sized box, and the only companies that make them cost big bucks.