Advice on Family Room Music/Movie System

Have you considered a used AV receiver? There are lots of high end AV receivers here on audiogon that can be had for well under $1000, heck for $500 you can get a THX/DTS/etc 5.1 or even 7.1 receiver that was over $3k just a few years back. The only real disadvantage of these units is they don't have HDMI inputs. But this doesn't matter unless you have a BluRay player, and even if you do, you can run the HDMI directly to your display and the audio (5.1 or 7.1 analog) to your receiver.

For the speakers, I agree with the above - spend your $1500 (or now $2000 with the money you saved) on a good pair of mains and possibly a sub. You can fill in the rest later as funds are available.

There is lots to choose from in this range, and certainly some good used deals here too. A personal favorite of mine is ACI (Audio Concepts, Inc). They don't advertise, only sell direct, etc. They have been around maybe 25 years and continually get rave reviews from the critics. Problem is you have to buy a pair to check them out - but they have a 30 day return policy.

A pair of their Emerald speakers and their Force sub would fit your stated budget. I have this setup in my bedroom and it is wonderful. Even some of my big ticket audiophile friends were impressed.

Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with ACI other than being a satisfied customer. There are other small shops like ACI that only sell direct and offer similar value. Bottom line - at $1500 to $2000 you should be able to find a very good set of mains and a sub that will form the basis of an excellent system.

Thanks everybody for the suggestions so far.

I definitely would consider a used receiver, especially since they lose value so quickly.

The space in the room is the big issue. There are no shortage of quality monitors that can be paired with a subwoofer, the key will be making them fit in the room. On wall mounting would still be the best option.

I have Linn stuff in my main system and they make some monitors that can be wall mounted on brackets, or stand mounted. Any other ideas?

I definitely hear the advice to invest in the mains and subwoofer. If you stop there than you don't need a receiver at all, maybe just a nice integrated amp. But I do want to try out the multi channel thing.

Just a clarification on the zone B idea. I was just thinking that a 7 channel receiver could drive some outdoor speakers with channels 6-7 using another source like a Squeezebox. Not a main priority but it doesn't seem uncommon.

Any other ideas are welcome!

bmd, the best downpriced on-wall speakers i've heard were energy take (i think fps is the model designation), which retail for about $400 each and sounded really good with music and movies. i'd think you can find 'em discounted or used for quite a bit less. they matched well with the garden-variety yamaha avr i heard them with. energy also makes excellent little 100w/150w subs, which you can easily find on ebay for $150 or so.
i agree with the recommendations for a used avr (places like accessories4less also blow out nice new or refurb onkyo or marantz units)-- denon, yam, onkyo etc. all make credible products w/second zone and numerous other features. all that said, i don't think you'll have a problem scoring a good system at you $1.5k budget.

A key issue here is your need - desire for 'on wall' speakers. outside of the audio diffs, finding them used is going to be tuff sledding.... possibly making you look into new ones altogether.

Pretty much all else can be had preowned.

The other 'key' diff - suggestions to get a used aV vs. int is the ability to initially just go 2.1 for now... and as time and other 'deals' come along, add to it, instead of outright replacing the int, were that the choice.

Focus makes on wall, and if you search threads here you'll find many other in wall or on wall speaker makers. Paradigm, Infinity, etc.

The Trick though, as I said, is getting good ones used. Especially di or bi poles for rears which is a good idea as they suffer less from on wall mounts and the audio info they serve to render.

The sub is the consideration following the mains.

J River music too is a source for end of run receivers or new ones... with warranties..

ACI too is a good company to deal with they are quite customer oriented.

What is your first system?

IMO, the over the fireplace location is the flat screen industries way of getting a large display in a household were the significant other is more concerned with putting the damn thing out of the way. It's right up there with audio equipment advertised without any wire.

My suggestion is: before you put any of this stuff in or on a wall set it up for a few days out in the middle of the room with the display on a low table and the seven speakers at ear level and as close to where their supposed to be as possible. Watch and listen for a few days then start hanging it all up.