I've been asked to help out in upgrading a stereo (2-channel) sound system for a 5000 square foot exercise facility. The only problem is that this is for a school that has a very limitted budget allocated for this: $1000.

Their initial plan was to install an old Sony receiver with four hand-me-down old JBL speakers (one of these had a torn driver). Unfortunately the receiver was designed for surround sound and it could barely eek out enough watts to power the speakers. So they pulled strings and were able to cobble together about $1000 and I offered to kick in $300 (total= $1300). They have also been to the local CC, GG, and BB's, only to be sorely disappointed by the prices they were quoted. I went with them to the GG and the sales rep tried to tell us we needed 6 ohms speakers, along with a bunch of other nonsense.

So what we need is 6-8 speakers that can play very loud and efficiently coupled with a solid receiver. My starting point (what I would have wanted) was a Harman Kardon HK-3480 receiver ($300), a PA-4000 multi-speaker amp ($600), and six Klipsch SB-1 Synergy speakers ($900), but this is well over our budget (not to mention the wiring). So then we thougth we would cut some costs and came up with: HK-3480 ($300), Adcom Speaker Selector ($200), and six JBL Northbridge speakers ($600). I never heard the JBL's but the specs are impressive.

So I was wondering:

- Would the HK-3480 and four Klipsch speakers (it supports four natively) be enough?
- Will the six JBL's be better than the 4 Klipsch's?
- Will a six-speaker selector switch degrade the output too much?
- The HK also has dual sub outputs, and we just happend to have a large Energy Sub that was donated (they thought it was a regular speaker and would help). Will it help?

I like the HK because it has a lot of clean and crisp power and would mate nicely with the HK PA-4000 in the future, but I am open to other suggestions (Onkyo 8511?). The room shape is also not ideal with an awkward L-shape layout and a piping & conduit cluttered ceiling (the speakers will be mounted overhead just under these). With exercise equipment clanking and people talking, I'm trying to get good clarity out of the sound system.

Please advise & thanks in advance.