For the money, Best set up for HT and music

1. The Aperion speakers are nice for what they are, but not even close to the same league as the Von Schweikert and B&W speakers you mention - so I would say go with the VS or BWs. Depends on your preference - my guess is that the VS will be smoother across frequency range, and BWs will be a bit more forward and revealing. You will need some clean power to run either one (see below).

2. HSU or Aperion Subs are fine. HSU is probably better. Cambridge Soundworks, not so sure. If you had any extra funds, this might be a good place to spring for a used REL sub, which would be more musical for 2 channel work than any of these picks.

3. A new Denon 2808ci receiver is not the greatest value when you can get a used 5803 online for the same price. These really don't wear out. I believe a 5803 has a Toroidal Power Transformer and assignable outputs so you could bi amp the Von Schweikert or B&W front speakers, which could yield big sonic benefits. Both of those speaker systems are good enough that you would appreciate the greater power and resolution provided by the higher quality audio circuits and power management of the 5803 compared to the 2808ci. Digital out from your computer should sound terrific through a beast like this.

4. For HT purposes the Oppo is fine. A new Denon 2930 is $850 and and an older 29XX wont up-convert video to 1080p, save your money here for the next generation Bluray players. I would run the HDMI out of the Oppo directly to your Samsung. I would run digital audio out (coax or optical) to a 5803 or similarly capable reciever/processor and let it handle the conversion chores in either multichannel or 2 channel modes. The DACs in the 5803 are better and set up in a more sophisticated arrangement compared to the Oppo's on-board stuff.

No Rotel needed in this setup - although the pair suggested earlier could be a legitimate alternative to a big Denon.

Hey Y'all,

I don't know anything about Aperion speakers, so I cannot comment on them. The VS speakers are far and away better, price for performance, then the equivalent offering from B&W. I feel comfortable saying this since I've sipped from both compounds Kool Aid drum during my travels to where I am now.

I will again say a separate amp pre/pro combo will give you better H/T audio and 2 channel audio performance then most any receiver you will be able to afford. As for HDMI, there are switchers you can employ that are not that expensive or you can go straight from source, say the Denon DVD-3910, to your TV. The 3910 will give you better 2 channel performance then anything else mentioned and up-converts to 1080I. I was under the impression that the most important aspect of this system was 2 channel performance. I personally would not use a receiver, if I could help it, for two reasons. One, the reason I mentioned above, performance versus seperates. Two, you will eventually add a separate multi channel amp to the receiver and then a pre/pro will replace the receiver anyway. So save yourself the time and effort and jump in with both feet.........John

SVS subs are great. My bro-in-law just got an SVS Ultra 13 and it dives very very deep. On the other hand, I don't think their monitors can keep up with the likes of Von Schweikert or B&W Nautilus speakers if those are real options here.

Yes, separates are good, probably a little better sounding in the end, but I really like the biggest Denons. For somebody just getting into this for the first time, they offer great sound and the simplicity of having everything in one (60+lb!) box. Look Ma! No interconnects!! The built in DACs are more than adequate, so you can get away with pretty much using the DVD as a transport, or another digital source like a computer and the receiver does the rest.

And, can you really get separates (even used) that will do as much, sound as good, and effectively drive the kind of speakers listed above the way one of these big old Denons will for only a little over $1K? The used cost of the better speakers and subs listed by Bluvision would only leave about $1500 total in the budget for the source, the processor/amp/receiver and all cables. Probably not enough for really decent used separates. But, perhaps I am beating a dead horse.