Help needed with mixed use media/listening room

My list of notable surround speaker systems:

• 3.3 KEF Q Series 5.1.2 
• 6.5 KEF R Series 5.1.2
• 15.5 Paradigm Founder 70LCR/40B 7.1
• 9.0 Monitor Audio Gold 5.1
• 22.0 Perlisten R 5.1
• Goldenear
• Revel Be 
• 35.0 Perlisten Audio S Series 7.1
• 38.0 KEF The Reference 7.2 

I’m settling for the wireless Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 Surrounds - so don’t have to run wiring.  My 2channel system is separate.

2.1

Tekton Epic 15 speakers, price $2200/pair.

https://tektondesign.com/product/full-range-speakers/full-towers/epic-15/#color

7.2.4

$3000 is a miniature compromised budget for multichannel unless you fished around for used and got lucky.

Inwalls sound bad and price will skyrocket above your budget to make them sound ok/stomachable. Hence, cheaper to go with regular bookshelfs and crossover dual subs, 100hz and under.

Andrew Jones Elac Debut 2.0 bookshelf, $230/pair on sale, approx $700 to 800 for 7 bed layer speakers.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970DB52/ELAC-Debut-2-0-B5-2.html

Andrew Jones Elac atmos speakers, mount on ceiling at locations per dolby guidelines (or more compromised, use as upfiring modules on top of bookselfs). $230/pair, $500 or so for quantity of 4

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970DA42/ELAC-Debut-2-0-A4-2.html

AV receivers are a big compromise. Go with a separate AV prepro and multichannel amp/amps.

Above mentioned would be the highest bang 4 buck you came across.

Of the speakers I mentioned I’ve only heard the Ushers, and if you’re looking for musicality and excellent imaging and 3D soundstage they are excellent and a huge value for the build quality and performance on offer (and also great looking if that matters), but the others all are also very highly regarded. If it’s me I’d definitely go for the Revivals or Ushers as they both have great pedigrees, and I’m highly confident they’d deliver excellent 2-channel performance that won’t disappoint on any level.

Incidentally it appears the Ascend ELX is well above your price target so the Sierra Tower may be more appropriate.  Not sure I’d worry too much about efficiency as any 100Wpc amp with a decent power supply should be able to easily drive any of these speakers.  As an aside, not sure what you’re planning but you should be looking at a good stereo integrated or separates for 2-channel duties that you can incorporate seamlessly into your HT setup if you’re at all serious about stereo performance. 

@mitch2  Thank you for the reply. I briefly read through the article and saw these were a bit power hungry/low efficiency.  I should have mentioned bedsores cost, the reason to leave the ceiling open was to reduce overall absorption leading to a lower power 150-200W requirement for the 2.2/2.2 system.  

Otherwise, all good suggestions, thank you.  This leads me to scope out future upgrades.  A well designed system is never completely done......

@soix-Thanks to you as well.  The Ascend Acoustics have the efficiency I am looking for.  Question, have you heard the SVS?

Thank you

For the towers I’d recommend these Revival Atalante 4 speakers, and it looks like this dealer offers a trial period…

https://fidelisav.com/products/speakers/atalante-4

These Usher towers are also excellent and have a 30-day return policy…

https://soundapproach.com/usher-mini-one-7-2-way-diamond-tower-speakers-pair.html

Among direct sellers the Arendal 1723, Ascend Acoustics ELX tower, and SVS Ultra Evolution Titan are worth a look and offer generous trial periods.  Best of luck. 

A couple of quick thoughts:

• Ceiling: - "Ceiling will be painted as seen in commercial spaces." What this implies to me is that you plan to paint the bare ceiling joists, underside of the upper subfloor, and any exposed ductwork or plumbing with black paint, as I sometimes see in a commercial space with an exposed ceiling. If you have other family members, you should consider whatever type of soundproofing you can afford so that you can listen to movies or music without disturbing others that may be in the upper level.  Drywall with insulation would be a good start but there are other products you could consider, that some here with dedicated listening rooms have used.
• Speakers: Since you are budgeting, you might consider starting with the most musical, while also being dynamic, HT speakers you can afford and dual use that area for movies and music until you can budget for a separate music system. This review discusses some older products that are still sometimes available used. Fremer had only good things to say about them, not only for HT but also for how they handle music. That same company still manufacturers speakers and still offers a couple of HT options for purchase new, including a dedicated on-wall or in-wall front channel model, a large center channel, or its smaller sibling.

Good luck and have fun with your build.