2.1 to start?

I'm guessing your budget is $500? If you plan on expanding this setup to a full 5.1, I would actually skip the sub for now and start out with a pair of $250 monitors from a quality line of speakers you can build into. Then you would save a few hundred, buy a sub, then a center, and then new mains, and you would simply take the original speakers you bought and move them to surrounds. Yes you could do this with the polks, but the monitor line is dirt cheap budget quality...That sub is not very good either, which is why I suggest you dont waste your money on it. I would try to get to the $350 price point for a quality sub like this ED A2-250

For example, you could start with Ascend HTM-200s, then eventually get a CMT-340 center, and CMT-340 mains.

In the long run this will give you a very high quality surround system, and save you from from "upgraditis" when you realize those polks aren't very good.

I would go something wall mount like the DT Mythos and a sub like previously mentioned.

Pick up an Onkyo SR608 for $300 shipped and 2 Infinity Primus P163s for $85 each.

The Polk sub won't do much of anything for your setup. You have a large space there. Save up a little longer and get a real sub. Expect to pay about $500 for a decent sub. Don't bother with anything cheaper or lesser than, say the HSU VTF-2.

Those Ascend HTM-200s that I linked earlier will work wall mounted for all 5 channels. I wouldn't mess with speakers any smaller then that.

Depends on what you're looking for. Amazon is good for a lot of gear, like Infinity speakers and receivers and some subs and whatnot. A lot of brands are really ID brands that you buy directly from - HSU, Rythmik, Axiom, Ascend, eD, Emotiva, etc. Accessories4less.com is a great place for a lot of stuff, especially refurb receivers. The AVS store has a lot of great gear. Newegg is good for some things, such as Polk speakers when they are on sale.

Haha I completely feel your pain. That definitely changes things then

The JBL L Series should be perfect for you. Start out with the L810, then add an LC2 center, and L820 mains. All wall mountable. You're going to be pretty screwed on a sub though...

Edit: A Bic VK-12 looks like a decent option for a sub.

The JBL L820 speakers are amazingly good. I have a friend with a pair of them with a 10" Dayton sub driven by an el cheapo Sherwood 4105 (4501?) and it sounds great. Harman Audio is currently selling the L810 on ebay - you should be able to get a great price on a pair of them.

Speaker preferences are pretty subjective, if at all possible you should try to audition your speakers in a proper environment before purchasing, though obviously your ability to do that will depend on what is available in your area. If you can find what you want locally, see if the dealer will match or at least come close to Amazon prices or other major retailers. If you must mail order, read the fine print of the return policy. Amazon's return policy is pretty good (though you should expect to pay return shipping if you need to return something you don't like).

I think you have the right idea though to build up gradually. I did the same, from 2.0 to 3.0 to 5.0 to 5.1. Not sure about Onkyo, but my Denon did a good job of adapting to the various configurations.

I live in Hawaii so I know the shipping prejudice you face. Crutchfield ships free to Hawaii and I assume to Alaska. Axiom also ships free. They do have some nice wallmount versions of their bookshelf speakers.

Marting Logan motion 4s and or motion 2s would work well too. They're OK for music and really nice for movies/television/gaming. And Amazon sells them with the free shipping.

Gene

I've used accessories4less a couple of times. Great place to pickup a Marantz or Onkyo receiver.

Vanns.com sometimes has good specials.

You could consider in-wall speakers.

Or:

http://www.amazon.com/JBL-L820-Wall-...4838177&sr=1-1

They are a little pricey but I hear they sound good, and the size,form factor is right up your alley.

Or even just a nice soundbar.

The problem with wall mounting speakers that weren't designed to be wall mounted is that placement factor was accounted for in the crossover design. This will lead to chesty voices and boomy mid bass. Look at those JBLs again

TSi's sound nearly identical to the Polk Monitors, which are much better value

Polk Monitor 30's = TSi100's; Monitor 40's = TSi200

Sign up for newegg.com email alerts and you will get the promo codes and be alerted to their sales. Polk Monitor 40 series ii usually go for $120 a pair and the Monitor 30 series ii go for $90 a pair

With the money saved you can get a better subwoofer than the Polk PSW10... Like Bic PL200 or Lava LSP12 or Polk PSW505

Infinity Cascades are designed to be wall mounted. Just a thought. And they sound great IMO.

If you went Def Tech, you would want to go Promonitor 800 or 1000. I think the 800 would stay with the look that you desire.

If choose ML it would be the Motion 4s or 2s. (rear ported) but have a mounting bracket.

Polks do sound very nice, but with the money you save, get a nicer sub from an ID sub company.

Awesome cabinet build. I too am looking to start a stereo set up. I have had the polk monitor 30s on my ever changing list since I started doing research. You have a bigger budget then me though =).

I'm going to start out with a stereo amp like the lepai t-amp. It's less then 30 bills. I was thinking you could always go that route and then when your ready to upgrade to 5.1 you could get a "newer" receiver.

Good choice

I just got that Lepai T-Amp yesterday. I'm driving a pair of Yamaha NS-6490 speakers (cheap) and it sounds pretty good. Bass is excellent at low volumes - I really didn't expect this to sound as good as it does. It plays very well right up to where it starts distorting & running out of power. When it hits the distortion it sounds like crap and shuts down. Played within it's capabilities it sounds very good and has very good volume. I'm impressed with it - for under $30 it is hard to beat. There is a bit of a scratching noise in the direct/tone button - its a push on/off button that enables or defeats the treble/bass knobs. I enable it.

You might rethink driving those JBL's with this amp if you like loud. If not then I think you'll like it. Very clear sounding.