Speaker Questions

This site is an iffy place to ask for recommendations, as one gets every point of view, including sane ones, crackpot ones, and ones based entirely on preconceived notions. For example, people who say "All XXX speakers are bad" can't possibly have listened to them all, and how do you know what they mean by "bad"? Maybe it's what you would call "good."

On the Steve Hoffman Forums (Google for them), you will find a moderated hardware forum with many practical and generally courteous audiophiles, including quite a few Polk users. Yes, there will be a variety of opinions, but people listen to one another, the moderation tends to weed out the cranks, and you'll find people who actually have listened to the speakers you are thinking about -- and also many other moderately priced speakers.

The present site is great for selling gear, and its forums provide entertainment and at times some good answers to very specific questions. But for someone on a budget asking the question you did, I suggest you try the alternative mentioned and see what you think.

At this point, buy what your budget and ears like.  There is plenty of time to expand ones' preferences as your time and disposable cash allow later.... ;)

(Imho....the concept of cash being 'disposable' is rather obnoxious, as is most other explanations of such.  An acquisition for pleasure, beauty, involvement, and the like shouldn't be considered as an investment either.)
Spouse and I sometimes buy 'art' to our tastes.  It may not be 'investment' nor 'museum' levels, but it pleases our eyes, tastes, and mindsets...

Basically, please yourself first and foremost.  Adopt whatever your read here to your space as possible and practical, and attend to the all-important SAF 'guidelines'.

Consider carefully the 'tweaks' and 'additions' espoused within these posts.
The Hunt For Perfection can be daunting, and generally can be considered an addiction of a sly nature....

Go have Fun.

And have a fun weekend, meanwhile...;)

J

A "BIG +1" for the tweaks! (As mentioned in the above post)!

  And also "Room Treatments"! Those being (as) if not more important than those speaker "tweak" types of improvements as well!

Tons of those both, listed on this site!

I have been in the biz since before the first VCR went stereo/HiFi. The single biggest decision is the center speaker and the biggest feature there is to get either a 3-way with the tweeter above a midrange or get a coaxial/coincident driver. Otherwise the LCR blend will not be seamless. This matters equally for soundtracks and for music if you use surround sound. On your budget look at KEF Q Series and Paradigm Monitor Series. Look for used or closeouts of models that have the above. As JB said Polk makes above average HT speakers for the money, but no matter who’s making it a side by side 2-way CCS cannot produce a n image to match vertical L/Rs. Bookshelves are fine but then don’t skimp on the subwoofer. Denon is a dependable AVR maker, just find s closeout that sold for at least $800.00. 

What is your primary listening going to be? 90% HT 10% music. Once you figure this out we can help you get the best bang for your bucks. One thing I have found is if you compromise or settle for something like it sounds you are you will not enjoy your purchase. You will always be thinking what if. HT does not need to be a matched system you can mix and match with good results. If 2 channel music is priority look on eBay and others for some Vandersteen’s they work will for both. If the towers blow your budget you can add in the other pieces later but will never have to change out the vandy’s.