ergolad:
you've stated that (a) you have around $2000 to spend on upgraded audio, and (b) you love your vandersteens. with those criteria, i think you'd be best served by keeping your vandersteens and getting a nice 2ch integrated amp (e.g. rotel, cambridge)and a blu ray player (oppo, panasonic); you can run your dvp and tivo directly to the tv. esp. the amp and blu ray shouldn't cost you more than a grand; i'd look first at the classifieds on these pages.
your other alternative, which is going to "consumer-grade" surround sound, inevitably will involve some sonic compromises--if you figure that a mid-level avr (onkyo, yamaha, etc.) will cost you around $900, you don't have much left for a blu ray player, subwoofer, rear speakers, and a center which will match your vandersteens (which, optimally, should be a vandersteen center). i also don't see much point in buying an avr to use solely in 2ch--it won't sound as good as a dedicated amp. i've learned the hard way that (whether it's stereo equipment, shoes, friends or anything else) you're much better off having a few really good things than a lot of fair-to-middlin ones.
you've stated that (a) you have around $2000 to spend on upgraded audio, and (b) you love your vandersteens. with those criteria, i think you'd be best served by keeping your vandersteens and getting a nice 2ch integrated amp (e.g. rotel, cambridge)and a blu ray player (oppo, panasonic); you can run your dvp and tivo directly to the tv. esp. the amp and blu ray shouldn't cost you more than a grand; i'd look first at the classifieds on these pages.
your other alternative, which is going to "consumer-grade" surround sound, inevitably will involve some sonic compromises--if you figure that a mid-level avr (onkyo, yamaha, etc.) will cost you around $900, you don't have much left for a blu ray player, subwoofer, rear speakers, and a center which will match your vandersteens (which, optimally, should be a vandersteen center). i also don't see much point in buying an avr to use solely in 2ch--it won't sound as good as a dedicated amp. i've learned the hard way that (whether it's stereo equipment, shoes, friends or anything else) you're much better off having a few really good things than a lot of fair-to-middlin ones.