home theater for 3000

also this is for a living room. the crap he has now is a stereo sony rec (no remote) and no name speakers

Sean is right. What you describe is a receiver-based system.

I'll try to help, but it'll be a real challenge to work with a $3,000 budget. I'll do my best.

There are a few other close choices in the receiver and DVD player category and I wouldn't projectile vomit if someone had other suggestions. I really don't think such other alternatives exist in the speaker category for the price, but I'm open to hearing about (and hearing) other candidates.

FYI, I own a $25,000 system and spent a lot of listening time (and working at a job) putting it together. When it comes to audio snobbery, I'll match upturned noses with the best of them. We audiophiles wear our pretensions like a badge of honor.

So don't be shocked at what I'm about to recommend. And remember that everything I suggest is my opinion. It's the only one I'm qualified to give.

Here goes (costs are street prices):

Speakers: Two Ascend CBM 170s in front, one Ascend HTM-200 in the center (it'll match, but if you are concerned, for a few bucks more you can make the center a 170) and two HTM-200s for surrounds. $750.00. (www.ascendacoustics.com)

Stands for the above mains: $90.00

Receiver: Onkyo TX-DS595 $380.00

DVD Player: Pioneer Elite DV-37 $560.00

Total $1780.00

OK, let's add a powered subwoofer. Sony SA-WM40 $199.00 (if you laugh you haven't heard it).

Total $1,979.00, less tax and/or shipping.

I told you this would be difficult.

You could always spend the extra grand on cables and a power cord (just kidding -- see my post in Audiogon Forum Cables under "John Dunlavy On Cable Nonsense.")

Plasma, thanks for the laughs. While the first one was your reference to "projectile vomit" ( oh, if you could only see the pictures ), the second one is hilarious because it is "universal" and OH SO TRUE : )

(When it comes to audio snobbery, I'll match upturned noses with the best of them. We audiophiles wear our pretensions like a badge of honor.)

As much as we try, we STILL get "snobby" when surrounded by "low fi" infidels, don't we : ) Keep up the good work and i'll have to remember to check into the Ascend Acoustics. Best wishes... Sean

Here is the breakup....and it doesn't get better

PreAMP OUTLAW AUDIO 950
AMP OUTLAW AUDIO 770
Cables Space them out keep buying good ones
Speakers Build your own (e-speakers.com..they'll sound as good as JM LABS grande-utopia ) if you buy high end stuff from Andre
your're set under 3000 with probably the world's best HT with 7.1; DTS ES and THX - EX
doesn't get any better