Advice on Family Room Music/Movie 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.

Our family is moving into a new home in about a month. I'm thinking about a second system because the new house will have a basement room that could be a dedicated listening room so I've been thinking about the second system for the main level family room.

The main system is also in some transition but consists of Linn Ninkas, Trikan and old Helix speakers, and a C5100 amp. I've been driving that amp and Ninkas with a Rotel integrated while I search for a Linn Unidisk SC or Exotik multi channel pre.

I've thought about setting up the main system in the family room but the space is an issue. The main sitting area of the family room faces a two sided fireplace with a door on the left through to another room behind the fireplace. Behind the sitting area is a wall seperating the family room from the kitchen. Where the left main speaker would normally be placed is right in the walkway through from the family room to the other room.

The best location for the tv really is above the fireplace because it is centered in the room. I could offset the tv to the right but that would make viewing awkward from where the couch naturally goes.

The best solution space wise would be something mounted high pointed down toward the listening area. With the complicated fit problems I'm inclined to try to find a good location for two small monitors and just go with a 2 or 2.1 channel system.

I may try the main system in the space first but I'm not optimistic is will endure 4 kids , the wife and our dogs. I'm really looking for a system to blend into the room and not be the main focal point but that still sounds good.

Thanks for the ideas so far!