Greetings,

I currently have a HT system that would have most people on this bb bust a gut laughing.
I am looking to start up grading and would like to begin with the speakers. I currently have some old Sonys for my front and center (Small HT in a Box style) and some Bi-Polar cheap Sonys as my rears. The best part of the system is a 200 watt Energy 12" front firing sub. It's sort of on loan and will have to be replaced at some point. My receiver is a Sony Pro-logic II that's about 5 years old and lacks co-ax or digital audio. I'm currently using the 5.1 analog audio jacks coming from my DVD player to the same set of inputs on the receiver. As primitive as this set up is it sounds somewhat passable, but lacks some serious mids.

Being a musician, my HT system is often used for viewing live concert DVDs (I don't use it to listen to CDs). I'm looking for a speaker system that will sound great for movie viewing, but will also sound killer for concert vids such as "Rush in Rio", Pat Metheny's 'Imaginary Day" or Step Ahead in Japan (the last two are jazz groups).

I went to a local Audio shop the other day and told them I was looking to upgrade all five speakers. I listened to three systems; Boston, B&W and Quad. The Quads blew my socks off. Unbelievable stage presence and clarity, but way out of my price range. The fronts were $700-1000/pr, the center $600 and the rears about $500. A complete set of Bostons (cant remember the models, but they had what appeared to be al. cones) were $1000. $350 for the fronts $400 center $250 rears. The B&W system was in between price wise , but I really did not like the sound. To me, it sounded they were sent through an parametric eq with some frequencies attenuated. Even at a grand for the Bostons I'm at much more than I wanted to spend. Especially since, I'm going to have to look at a receiver next and also a sub.

Given the above info, does anyone have any suggestions. I've been on the fence about a Fluance SX system, but really don't like the fact I can't hear them first. The price sure is right (at this price I could do the sub too) but, I wonder if I'm going to get what I pay for (even with all the positive reviews on this sight).

I should add that I'm by no means an audiophile or have any aspirations to be. However, I've been in enough recording studios to know really good sound and also know I can't afford it.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,
Mark