OK. Have narrowed my search down to, oh , a half dozen variations. All systems are receiver or separates, 5.1 systems. PLEASE vote on your favorite of the group, and why. Key notes:
Room is 60x35x13 with some offsets for a total cubic footage of 25,000.
Have a wife and 5 month old daughter, so rocking out is not a priotity (much more concerned with quality in the 1/3 of space devoted to home entertainment).
Price is, of course, a consideration. Losing 10% of spec performance for 50% reduction in cost is OK. Better yet, if some of those components make it to the next upgrade.
Now, feel free to weigh in with fact, speculation, answers off the beaten path. Here is my short list of "packages":
#1 Arcam AVR300 Totam Forest Mite T-C x3 Thunder Total cost: $11,000
Mixing and matching is fine, if you think another combination. Ancillarly notes: think I like more warmth than brightness, listen to classical, latin, brit-pop of '80s - today, fairly wide ranging. Music/threatre is 60/40.