For a two-channel system, you've got a budget that will buy you something pretty nice whether you go tube or solid state. Adding the home theater dimension produces a completely different problem for you, and for anyone trying to help. Why do you say, "..guess I better add some home theater."? Is that, as it seems, an afterthought? Is your '70s music collection vinyl or CD?

If you try to build an entry/mid level audiophile home theatre (sound) system your more likly to need to "GIVE" a few. Here's my take without the video display.

Arcam AVR300 7.1 channel reciever 2,000.00
Denon DVD 3910 universal player (all formats) 1,500.00
Outlaw Audio or HSU Sub 700.00
Velodyne Sub Eq 700.00

Subtotal before speakers all around 4,800.00

Speakers all around budget 3-5 K Go listen. Paradigm and B&W would be a good place to start.

I don't see any way KRELL fits into your budget, for Home Theatre.

RG

I would allocate my budget something like this:

$300 Home Theater in a Box from Circuit City or Best Buy

$2500 Dynaudio Floorstanders
$1000 Marantz 8260 CD Player
$2500 Unison Research Unico SE hybrid integrated
$700 Audioquest CV6 speaker cable and Audioquest IC

You better ask the thread originator what percentage he would allocate to home theater versus music.

I dunno why shopping for components is such an arduous task for so many people. For me, selecting and demo'ing components is a hobby in and of itself.

Acoustical, sounds like you can benefit from:

Complete Guide to High-End Audio

Home Theater for Everyone

Quote:
I dunno why shopping for components is such an arduous task for so many people. For me, selecting and demo'ing components is a hobby in and of itself.

I would tend to agree. However, much of that depends on the type of stores you have in your area. I lived in Albuqueruqe, NM for the last four yaers. The stores there were very laid back and had no problem allowing plenty of audition time. It was very enjoyable to take my disks and spend some quality time listening to great electronics.

However, I moved back to Columbus, OH in August. The store here that carries many of the brands I enjoy (like B&W, Thiel, even NHT) have a decidedly unfriendly attitude to the casual browse and listen. Their average ticket is above $100k and my couple of thou just isn't worth their time.

This has really killed my enthusiasm for enjoying hi-end equipment.

It's too bad that more and more stores are getting this 'don't bug me unless you can pay' attitude. One day I will be able to afford the speakers I want. I will have them shipped from NM and pay the extra freight cost before giving the store here a penny.

I cannot disagree with that assertion- the dealer has the potential to make or break the shopping experience. This is true whether one is shopping for a commodity like a car or a hi-fi component.

Fortunately, I Chicago has no fewer than 4 dealers that are amenable to even budget priced music lovers/hi-fi hobbyists. My budget is ~ $1500 per component and I have never felt I got the short end of the stick.

I can empathize, there are some dealers that could not be bothered. And I avoid these as I feel they are part of the problem rather than the solution. The top of the pyramid of hi-end audio will always be somewhat out of the mainstream but I don't believe the industry as a whole can survive- much less grow- if the budget minded/entry level consumer is marginalized by these sorts of dealers.

The message to retailers is that if you don't have time to mess with the little guys, don't whine when Ebay and Audiogon put you out of business.

I've been in stores like this. Not a soul in the store and the sales guy would really rather not go to the trouble of changing out a component or two. The next thing you know, the store becomes a "by appt. only" and then closes.

I still encourage using the services of the good retailers and paying a little more for the goods because I have learned the difference between the price of something and the cost of something. However, Audiogon starts looking pretty attractive if your dealer expects you to buy products without listening to them or simply makes the buying experience unenjoyable.