http://www.hometheatersound.com/equipment/elac_cinema_pipes_xlcenter_2sat_sub111_2esp.htm
i think it is really personal taste. beside sound quality, "looks" is also very important. i like speaker with wood cabnet, i think it add some classic touch to a speaker. i will maybe go for KEF as the person above said. all are very good choice. i think u should try to listen and see if like the sound.
if your living room isn't large, u can change to a smaller front speaker.
or if u like B&W speakers, u can try this
the whole B&W CM package will over your budget, u can try to mix it with 600 series to stay within budget.
btw, dollar for dollar, KEF is a better value. B&W has bigger name. (also better for resale, i guess)
usually, kef and B&W are good with Marantz amp/receiver. if you have a better receiver, you will not need a high end dvd/cd/Blue Ray player because all the Digital to analog processing is done within the receiver. if you want to spend money, it is better to spend it on a receiver than disk player. i will spend a little more this this area. Denon 2808, Pioneer 92tx, Marantz 7002 are some good example. try to shop around for better price.
