looking for performance speaker recommendations

Tip, hang speakers upside down so that the tweeters are on the bottom, angled down towards you. The closer to the height of the TV for the fronts, the better as noted above.

Here are some good choices for complete systems:

Epos AVS 5.1 System - Wow!

Quad L-lite - WOW!!

KEF KHT2005.3 - either stunning or funny egg shapes, depending on your taste - but great sound.

Aperion Intimus 5B Harmony SD - great sounding two-way boxes from the Internet!

Mirage MX 5.1 - Omni present sound.

Definitive Technology ProCinema 800 - great for movies, not quite up with others for music

B&W MT20 - will look and sound good in your groovy modern pad (buy the MT30 if can find used for your price - has better sub)

ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGO T - Best Buy in many comparos

Here are some more ideas for larger and more expensive bookshelf speakers systems. All of these manufacturers make serviceable to very good subs and center speakers to go with these great bookshelf systems. If the price new is too steep, look for them used online.

Check out Totem's website and then see if you can find some of their gear used. Stunning build and sound...

http://www.totemacoustic.com/products/home_theater/

B&W 600 and CM series:

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=2375&sc=ht

http://www.bowers-wilkins.com/display.aspx?infid=816&sc=ht

System based on used Dynaudio Audience 42

http://dynaudio.com/eng/archive/lines/audience/audience42.php

Epos system based on the new ELS8

http://www.epos-acoustics.com/products/els8.php

System based on Focal Chorus 705V and 706V

http://www.focal-fr.com/

System based on the Monitor Audio BR2

http://www.monitoraudiousa.com/products/bronze-br/br2/your-speaker

System based on the Paradigm's latest Monitor series

http://www.paradigm.com/en/paradigm/fronts-monitor-series-1-2-4.paradigm

System based on PSB Image series

http://www.psbspeakers.com/products/Image-Series

Quad system based on the larger 11L and 12L - these speakers have Steinway piano-like finishes and sound to go with it

http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/ranges.php?sector_id=2&range_id=11

Good luck

More food for thought:

Given your suggestion about the Energy brands, you could get a new Energy 7.1 speaker system consisting of two Energy C200 bookshelf speakers as fronts, four Energy C100 bookshelf speakers as satellites, Energy C-C100 center channel and an Energy S12.3 subwoofer. Total for a new 7.1 system is $1430 from Audio Advisor (http://www.audioadvisor.com/).

The energy speakers are the best I have heard at this price point, and the larger C200's with the S12.3 sub would provide enjoyable music listening as well in 2.1 if that is your intent. These are quite common products, and you can probably find these components at a local video store on sale new for less than AA's current prices.

In contrast, the smaller PSB Alpha 7.1 system from AA would cost $1460. Of similar size to the Energy set up but with more capable speakers, the all PSB Image 7.1 system would run $2440 from AA, and an all Epos ELS8 system would run $2600 from the same source.

The Energy system would provide a bigger overall sound and fill a bigger room than the smaller PSB Alpha's, but the Alpha's would be a bit more accurate if that is your bag.

The all PSB Image or Epos ELS8 systems would start to get you at the edge of "performance speaker" territory, but you can see that new those are outside your current budget. The suggestions in my above post will be similarly priced or higher than these two suggestions for a whole 7.1 set up, so used is the ticket if that's your final destination.

Keep in mind what you will be using to drive these speakers. The PSB Image and Epos or any of the other entry level audiophile speakers I suggested above will be less forgiving of source and amplification than the complete speaker kits or the Energy system, so that is another consideration for you.

One last point - I would definitely not scrimp on the subwoofer, as muddy or sloppy bass can really ruin your level of enjoyment. I would budget 30-60% of your total system cost for the sub. It cost a lot of green to go down well.