Modernizing my vintage Infinity speakers

Hi. I am just beginning to check out surround systems. I am more into music than movies but plan on watching more movies and less TV in the future. I currently have what I believe are RS4 Bs (2 8" woofers, mid and tweet). I get lovely base at low volumes on these speakers paired with B&O 4000. I will be keeping these speakers initially but want get a start on a system that will come close to this sound. I do not want to spend $10,000 for the entire system. I am thinking 5.1 in the living room and will be looking at receivers that are dual so I can eventually add some good sound in the kitchen/dining area.

Yesterday I listened to some Paradigm speakers. I am guessing they are studio. I was recommended the Monitor series for a center. That total system seems more my price range. What I heard was lacking the deep base I am used to. Perhaps this is just the way surround is supposed to be. It sounded brighter than what I am used to. That may also be the norm for today, though I have seen some recommendations here for some warmer speakers. I am not sure that is the correct term for the difference in the sound. It also seems that the local dealers only have the higher end models for listening. So I will not have the luxury of hearing the entry level speakers from some of these companies. I do also feel that I want at least a 2.5 way and would prefer a 3 way speaker for eventual replacement of the Infinities.

So, will listening to the higher end models give me a good idea of the sound from the more entry level systems?

Anyone here who has heard the sound on the older Infinities have an idea of which might get me a closer sound? My look at the current Infinity models indicates that they have changed since 1986.

I saw some recommendations for the Salk SongBirds and those have peaked my interest. I have emailed to see if there is any way to hear them.

Thank you Speakerphile. I guess I was not as awake this AM as I thought. Dah. My current set up is just the 2 Infinities. The system I heard yesterday was a complete surround system with a sub. There was very little base at all. Then again since they would not play my music it could have been what they were playing.

Thanks for the tip on BestBuy. I did not realize they had speakers worth checking out. I do want towers for the front r/l vs bookshelf. I know they say they are better these days but the bookshelf speakers will not give me decent sound in the living room.

So what would BestBuy have that is the equivalent of the Paradigm Monitor series?

Thank you SpeakerPhile! I did not see those looking on-line. I may head over to Tuttle this weekend. Oh, Salk does offer a 30 day return policy and I am getting to listen to some locally. Jim has been very helpful. His lovely cabinets are a draw as were the ones on my current Infinities (oak with the fluted edges - I think fluted is the term). I am also seeing comments that lead me to believe the sound may be what I am looking for.

Ronaldo, thanks you for the tips. I think it was a new guy. He did say he was not sure how everything was hooked up. That did bother me a bit and it is a shop that sells mostly high end audio. I will have to go back there to hear Revel at that location unless I can find another shop locally.

I called another place on Sunday. They have Martin Logan and Mordant-Short though I don't know if they have the latter for listening. They actually have one of the small Logan entry level speakers along with the more expensive ones. It seems the high end shops have had to cut way back due the economy in this area. I see one more shop locally to check.

I think my speaker budget is $3500-4000. My initial thought was to keep the Infinities for now and start with a good center. I just want to know where I am headed so I don't end up with miss matched voices too much. I also want to put something in the kitchen dining area so need a little for that down the line.