You absolutely CANNOT get a decent 5.1 system for $600-$700 new. It's impossible. TV and movies don't need to be 5.1 to be compelling. Two good speakers will sound a world better than the two 2.5" speakers in a TV. A good stereo experience will trounce a shitty surround experience ALL DAY LONG.

Big box stores will almost always give you the wrong answers. Find a local shop that deals with audio or audio/video ONLY. These places are usually full of people that are passionate about audio. Sometimes what you buy isn't as important as from whom you buy it.

I'd recommend the Marantz 4021 stereo receiver (or something similar) and Paradigm Titan speakers or Mini monitors (also from Paradigm) if the budget can be stretched. From my experience any store that is allowed to carry Paradigm is going to be a good store.

Hi Steve,

I agree with mrlowry. Good audio/video stores should be able to help, and try to listen to as many different combination of components as possible. Take your time and visit several stores if possible.

Good luck on your venture Steve.
Steve

The Marantz that I recommended is a two channel unit so if you are set on surround that won't work. The minimum budget for a good surround receiver is around $600. Marantz makes good surround receivers too. Keep in mind that different receivers with similar specs can sound quite different. Also different manufacturers rate wattage differently so using wattage to compare two different manufactures is EXTREMELY ill advised.

Only buy a surround receiver if you know that you will be doing surround eventually. Buying a surround receiver because you MIGHT do surround is a great way to waste a couple hundred bucks because you are paying for a couple of channels of amplification, surround decoding, and video switching, etc, etc. All things that you won't use for stereo. So if you have a Mrs. make sure that she's on board with you having speakers all over the room, or know that you will have a MAJOR fight on your hands down the road.

Buy a regular, 2-channel integrated amp...don't waste your time with a surround sound receiver, they are not musical at all. I think you'll find that your movies sound great on a two speaker set-up anyways.
Check out the NAD C315bee...it's $400 new and will do the trick. Pair that up with some PSB Alpha B1 speakers ($250 new) and you should be happy with your music.

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You absolutely CANNOT get a decent 5.1 system for $600-$700 new. It's impossible. TV and movies don't need to be 5.1 to be compelling. Two good speakers will sound a world better than the two 2.5" speakers in a TV. A good stereo experience will trounce a shitty surround experience ALL DAY LONG.

I agree. A competent 2-channel integrated like the NAD would be the better choice. You need to spend A LOT more money to get the same results in a 5.1 channel setup.

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I'm going to take my time and enjoy the process.

A great way to go about it, Steve. Have fun.

I agree. It's all about the fun and the music of course!
Enjoy your adventure!:D