Best Musical Home Theater Speaker

Notcat2, I wouldn't discount the sonic superiority of a nice 2-channel system just yet.

If it's set up properly, with excellent equipment, and if you include a nice musical subwoofer, you will still get that 'widescreen' experience. Perhaps not to the exact same degree as having 5 speakers, but the quality of what you hear will most likely be substantially better via a better 2-channel system.

Comparing a lesser quality surround sound to a superior quality 2-channel system would be like comparing living in a nice apartment complex in the inner-city to a living in nice house in the suburbs.

Stupid analogy I'm sure as each has it's benefits. But it comes down to preferences, but there is a real quality trade-off for selecting one philosophy over the other. When you are talking the monies.

And going the 2-channel route (for now) does not prevent you from expanding to a surround sound system later if you think you still need it. The better 2-channel route now simply provides you a means of better quality now and later.

'Nuff said.

-IMO

Sometimes life is filled with too many "could haves" and "should ofs".

I could have built a GREAT two channel system and then built the home theater around it. But, I was once like you new to this blood sport and uninformed. So I got great home theater speakers (Definitive Tech Towers) but I didn't know they weren't outstanding music speakers. Good but not "really good". Over time I've upgraded all my electronics - Sunfire Theater Grand III, Sony E9000ES DVD/SACD, Denon DVD 3800, Audio Research LS 16 tube preamp with bypass, interconnects, spikes, cones, upgraded power chords, power conditioners/cleaners but all I got was better soundstage and slightly better sound than my original Denon AVR 5600 and early near top of the line Sony DVD player.

So, my friend, listen to the financially worn and technically exhausted at this site of dreamers/schemers and unfulfilled chasers of grand theater and music...get a good stereo set up and go from there.

Violins...fade...curtains.

I agree with Stenho...I just have a starter 2 ch DVD system with a Bryston integrated amp, B&W CDM1nt's & a Velodyne Sub. Everybody who has watched a movie now knows that they would rather start w/ a better 2 channel system & then upgrade as the budget permits. I would go with whichever integrated amp that you prefer that has a home theater passthrough and then later add the additional amps speakers & ssp, but you will still have the flexibility for much nicer 2 channel music. Just my 2cents.

Ellery

I would pick speakers that you like for music (probably the front two). The movies will be fine; just let your spouse pick the rest of the surround speakers that meet with approval for appearance, etc.

Yeah an option for you, if you are just mostly into 2 channel music listening(?...music DVD's?...5 ch music?...or mostly cd?), would be to maximize the 2 channel around your monitor, forget the mondo expensive AV receiver and multiple speakers possibly, and opt for a less expensive (perhaps used) aV pre/pro for movie dubties(although used on 2 channnel only), while focusing the money into the 2 speakers you like for music, adding a subwoofer to the mix, and you could be done!
The "wifey" would be more than pleased likely if you build very good quality sound from the 2 ch system, with sub and av pre/pro for proper DD/dts sound for that application I think!
Quality over quantity any day! And you said 90% music...so I'd lean that way personally.