My current setup consists of the Polk Audio RM6600 speakers with psw350 and a Yamaha RX-V596. Im pretty happy with the sound.
I have a Samsung HL-S5088 for my TV with a panasonic blu ray player.

I just purchased a house and will be setting up my living room so i wanted to buy myself a present.
I wanted to get some new speakers and receiver.

I mainly play video games and watch dvd's so my system wont be used for music too often. I narrowed myself down to Denon, Pioneer Elite, or Marantz for the receiver. Speakers is where i am lost.

The room is 15x15 with wood floors.
I am not sure how to size my speakers for the room. The rears will definitely be bookshelf or satellite. I dont know if towers up front will be too much. or bi/di pole in the rear. i would like to do a 7.1 system but im also not sure if the room is too small for that and should just go with a 5.1.

Im thinking my budget for speakers will be $2000 give or take and Receiver around $1000-$1500

Will your sofa be against the back wall or in the center of the room?

Sofa will be against the wall

I guess a basic question is what's more important to your sensory experience - your ears or your eyes???

In my opinion and experience DVD and gaming is about 80% visual with the audio a necessary accessory - your 15 ft. wall-to-wall distance would be perfect for the addition of a projector and screen which would be well within your stated budget.

You already have good audio but only a relatively small television for the visual aspect - I would suggest projector and screen.
GoodLuck

I have no desire to add a projector or screen. if i do anything as far as a display is concerned i will upgrade to an LCD but thats not on my list right now. I want to get all the right connections for my system and possibly speakers and then ill worry about other things. right now i cannot set up my system correctly due to my receiver so im going to look into a new receiver first then speakers. technically i cannot set up anything since the room is empty until i paint and do the floors!!!!