Newbie with $1500 and a wife pushing for Bose

If part of the compromise you're looking for is the simplicity of one-stop-shopping you can get many of the advantages your wife might be looking for and better sound by going with one of the package set-ups from Cambridge Soundworks

You undoubtedly could put together a better system choosing components piece by piece and buying used but that's a long, involved process and, unless you've got some experience with the gear, has the possibility of unpleasant surprises, not something I'd think you want in your situation.

They're a good company with exceptional customer service, another thing that's really important if you're new to this.

I agree with the Paradigm / Yamaha suggestion. Sounds better and is a much better value.

My advices is this...

Definitive Technology Procinema 60 (649.00)
Includes Center, 4 sattelites speakers, and subwoofer
A little bigger than the bose cubes but not very small, a hell of alot better sounding, good wife acceptance factor. I have yet to meet anyone who had actually heared these and didnt think it was a killer deal. They sound fantastic. Look up Definitive technology on the web, better yet audition them somewhere if you can, they will really suprise the hell outta you.

Denon AVR-1804 surround reciever, about about $500.00 i think. This reciever mates perfectly with the deftech speakers. In my humble opinion Denon makes some of the best recievers in thier respective price ranges.

this leaves you with about 350 bucks for either a DVD player or some good cable.

For your first foray I'd say stop looking and start listening. Go to BestBuy and get the most expensive Sony A/V receiver they've got and those swiveling Bose music cubes and subwoofer. Connect it all with Monster cables. Ask a stereo nut to help you set it up and demystify the remote. The digital signal processing alone provides endless amusement.

At your own peril keep up your research and when descriptions like: detailed yet forgiving; smooth yet refined; and bold but not brash make any sense you can decide where you may want to go from there.

This is your wife, You would want her to see some quality "good looking" speakers with beautiful cabinets like Paradigm. Once you get those babies in the house your on your way to hi fi Heaven, and you wont have to scarifice nookie nookie to do it.