Hello:
The very modest home theater system that I currently enjoy very much is an Outlaw 1050 A/V receiver (MSRP $499 + $35 UPS Ground shipping direct from outlawaudio.com) and the Acoustic Research HC-6 satellite / subwoofer system (MSRP $800, but I've seen "street prices" at this website as low as $379 - $400 + shipping charges recently).
I have my speakers mounted on Standesign BB-75 (adjustable) stands, but feel that they would actually work just as well, if not better, resting on generic MDF shelfs with or without small amounts of Blu-Tak or poster putty to stabilize them.
I have tried Acoustic Zen and Luminous Audio interconnects as well as Rhino cables and get the impression that any competently designed and built, fairly neutral sounding interconnects will do just fine here. Outlaw sells some twisted pair, single crystal copper (ala Harmonic Technology and Acoustic Zen!) cables that look very promising and only cost about $50 for 1 or 2 meter pair! Acoustic Research also makes some modestly priced interconnects that appear to represent good value and probably sound very good in this modest system.
I am currently using Kimber 4TC and 4VS speaker cable and again feel that these are overkill for such a modest system. Acoustic Research makes some 18G solid core copper wire in a superthin configuration that I think retails for $1 / ft., but probably sells for $0.50 - $0.60 / ft at varous internet sources.
The overall presentation of this system, for HOME THEATER, is clean, clear, and the soundscape is really impressively continous and coherent as sounds pass from one speaker to another. Overall, the system is slightly subtractive, but I think it's compromises are well chosen, especially with so many "hot" soundtracks on DVD.
This system won't play tremendously loud and the bass doesn't go extremely deep, but the overall sound really contributes to drawing you into the the movie and increasing your enjoyment.
I am very happy with this modest system and would commit any other funds to a high quality DLP projector and screen (the Piano Plus HE-3200 and HE-3100 look very promising, indeed; their website is plushometheater.com) before I consider investing any more money in the audio aspect of my home theater.
Hope this help!
P. S. - If you read the various reviews of these 2 components, you will find that they excel as a 5.1 channel home theater system, but don't work nearly as well as a 2 channel audio system (the crossover between the satellite and subwoofer becomes way too obvious).
