Advice on first HT equipment and setup.

If you get a DSP you can phatom the center channel and save yourself trouble trying to find a center to match the timbre of your excellent speakers. (Centers are over-rated IMHO unless you have large audiences watching movies all the time. Plus centers don't work all that well unless you can match tweeter height exactly with L&R, such as placement behind a screen)

If you want a fully covincing enveloping sound it is best to stick with the same speaker all round....find a JMLab monitor that is closest in sound to your mains and you will be happiest.

Sub woofers ....JL F113 fathom and SVSsound PB Ultra are awesome value.

Receiver/DSP...your choice depending on what sources you have.

DVD player...something real cheap until you are ready to go High Definition (Blu-Ray)

Good Luck

These should match your L&R
Chorus CC700 S Center-Channel Speaker, $450
Chorus 706 S Bookshelf Speaker, $495/pair
Chorus SW700 S Subwoofer, $695

This receiver has a room correction and it is one of the best bang for the buck.....together with Onkyo stuff.
Pioneer Elite VSX-91TXH AV Receiver ($799 new here)

This DVD will keep you up to date with the latest and greatest in Hollywood Production.
Toshiba HD-A20 1080p HD DVD player - like new ($200-$250)

About $2700 Total.....but you can shop around for less.

Good Luck Freddy

This DVD will keep you up to date with the latest and greatest in Hollywood Production.
Toshiba HD-A20 1080p HD DVD player - like new ($200-$250)

I would not recommend going HD-DVD - at this time it looks like HD-DVD is a dead duck.

Go Blu-Ray if you go High Def...or go cheap DVD and wait for Blu-Ray to come down in price...

You really think it is over.......I don't know.
I wouldn't be so quick and buried HD DVD (just not yet). I have seen it, time and time again. If there is money to be made.....both formats will coexist. Eventually, one will win over. Untill new format.

Freddy50; A couple of things :
1. Do not omit the center channel speaker ! It is , IMO the most important speaker for HT . Probably 75% of the movie will come from this speaker !
2. You said that you don't want to break the bank so here goes... try Axiom center channel and rear dipole surround speakers . I had these mated with my Electra 926's and they matched rather well ! Quite inexspensive and work well for HT , just don't try to use them for music .
I bought these from this Canadian company's "blem" stock .
They are only a wood look vinyl laminate but it is quite nice and I could not see any blemish ! These three speakers should be in the 600 - 700 dollar range total new .
I was driving them with an Onkyo H/T receiver . The Onkyo was A/B'd against Pioneer and Harmon Kardon , in my system , and sounded the best . The new ones will offer HDMI connection and work with HD and Blueray DVD formats . They start at around $550 and go up giving you more power ,
HDMI connections and other features . That would leave you with @ 700 dollars for a DVD player , cables ( rat shack , blue jean etc.) and shipping .
3. You have not mentioned a sub-woofer . Again , IMO this will be an important speaker for H/T use . You will need that chest thumping , dish rattling effect to round out your H/T experience ! It does make a difference . If you didn't go crazy on the DVD player you might have enough left to purchase a 12" sub on the used market .

Good luck .