Karlman - that Onkyo 606, M22's, vp100, QS8's, ep350 is exactly the setup I've been considering. However I'm really new at this, and I don't want to be spending too much money if I'm not going to realize the benefit. I'd appreciate any advice on that speaker combo or room matching as I'm about to move into a new house that will provide me with some room in the already finished basement.
It's a 14 wide, 20 deep, but the back half of one side is open to a 9' hallway, so it will be configured like a 14x11, there's also some nasty bulkheads that I suspect will be a big issue:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rickburdeniuk/115Hollybush/photo#5206647011946113826http://picasaweb.google.com/rickburdeniuk/115Hollybush/photo#5206647020536048434http://picasaweb.google.com/rickburdeniuk/115Hollybush/photo#5206646999061211922Dialog in movies is my #1 priority, I hate missing what people are saying. Next would be surround performance (hence QS8). I'd say I'll be 60% HT, 10% audio books, 10% PS3 gaming, 10% mp3 music like Blue Rodeo & The Clash. I'd do not prefer great amounts of volume, and this will be my first set of remotely decent speakers. While I'm patient and willing to learn - I don't have room/configuration tuning expertise.
In addition to the room complications I have young kids who will share the room, a big dog, and a wife+mother-in-law who won't entirely respect the equipment so I'm not sure if huge floor standing speakers will be practical.
