Upgrading my Paradigms, how does this sound?

OK I've currenly got a set of Paradigms that date back to the turn of the century. 4x Atoms (v1s or v2s?) CC-120 Center and a PDR-12 that recently rotted out and died (!).

Room is average sized living room not super huge probably 15ftx12ft or something around that range. System mostly used for movies but some music.

I already have a decent receier (Pioneer Elite VSX-03txh). So i just need speakers.

Right now budget is around $2000-$2400. I'm looking at how to get the best bang for the buck and get the biggest upgrade over my older system. I was looking at something like..

Fronts: Paradigm Studio 10s (I believe these are $800 for the pair)

Center: Paradigm CC-490 is $800, there's also the Paradigm SE thats $450 which would help the budget quite a bit. Is that too big of a comprimise tho?

Subwoofer: Epik Empire $900 shipped. I like the HSU VTF-15h as well but thats $100 more and reviews seem somewhat even on these (?). Local HT store had a 'rebel' sub on closeout for $600, not sure of the model probably the B120 or something like that. Not sure how that would compare against the HSU or Epik.

So that's $2400 right there going on the higher costs, plus tax. For rears i was just to do some Paradigm Cinema ADPs. I can get a pair pretty cheap and honestly the Atoms i have for rears now don't do a whole lot. My rear placement isn't optimum as they sit directly above the couch, maybe the dipole ADPs will help with the surround, either way i figure if i gotta go cheap on something its the rears right now.

Any suggestions on that? I haven't committed to anything and while i like Paradigm i'm open to alternatives. I'd just like to keep it at $2000 (+/- a few $$$) or so max. Mainly i'm just hoping for a nice upgrade. I've listend to the studios in store and they do sound great but are they the best bang for the buck?

I'd like to stay with the bookshelf sized for the fronts if possible, it would be hard (but not impossible) to squeeze in floor standing models where the tv sits now. Wouldn't the floor standng monitor 7s be more than the Studio 10s anyway?

The Studio 20s do look nicer but that would totally burst the bank. Unfortunately you have to draw the line somewhere.. otherwise there's always something better for a few hundred more it seems

I'll look into the ascends as well, thanks for the info.

OK i guess i'm confused, how could going with the 7s save money over the 10s then?

Right now I have Atoms, i was hoping for a bit of an upgrade there. Would newer mini-monitors be that much better than my existing (albiet older) Atoms?

OK thanks for the heads up on Ascend they seem to rate very well against the Paradigms.. for less money even.

So now the question is, do i do the CMT-340s ($868 for the Trio) or the Sierras? ($1286) The Sierras would be harder on the budget but not insanely so and they'd be cheaper than the combo of the Studio 10s and the CC-490. If i'm reading the general consensus right, the sierras should best those particular paradigms?

Also on the rears.. i really, really want a dipole speaker for that given my setup. Ascend doesn't offer anything like that. I'm a big proponent of matched speakers but how awful would the sierras do with some Paradigm ADPs for rears? Honestly its just for movies.. i don't do much Quadraphonic music or anything.. would that just be awfully imbalanced?

The only other option would be one of the SVS sets. Theire SCS-02 set is $950 shipped which is a decent savings under ascend. Plus it comes with the matched dipole rears. But how much would that setup give up over the sierras or even the CMT-340s?

Thanks in advance!

Recap - 75% Movies / 25% Music. Small - Medium sized living room. Due to rears placement prefer bi/dipoles. Already have decent receiver (Pioneer Elite vsx-03xh) Budget around $2000 (+/-) Can do towers instead of bookshelves but they can't be super huge.

OK reading all of these reviews, threads and recommendations over the last week has literally started to make my head spin. No matter what you pick there's reasons to pick something else or another direction to go in, etc. etc. etc. After awhile you just gotta make a decision.

Here's what I've pretty much narrowed it down to:

SVS SCS-02(M) 5.0 SYSTEM: $949. Upside - Cheap, bipole surrounds. Plenty of budget to add a nice sub. Downside - Reviews are positive but seems like there might be better options. Movie dialogue is somewhat quiet off the center? (I hate that!)

Ascend Sierra 1: (Sierra L/C/R) $1342. Upside - Well reviewed, probably better for music. Comprable to Paradigm Studios which I like. Downside - Need to add non-matching Bipole rears (Cheap Paradigm ADPs probably to stay within budget). Ported design might make placement problematic (but not impossible). Might have to step down to a $600 price range sub. I could do the CMT340s instead but figure if you are going to do ascend, go for the sierras.

Emotiva X-Ref Series: (X-Ref 6.2 Tower, 6.2 Center, 4.2 Bipole Rears) $1485 on sale Upside: Due to pricing can do a tower instead of bookshelves which will hopefully be better for music. Reviews seem to be good from magazines/mainstream sources. Matched bipole rears. Downside: Are they as good as the Ascend/paradigm combo above? Would once again probalby have to make due with a $600ish sub to stay in budget. Have read some less than stellar stuff on the X-Refs being a step down from previous speakers in their line.

For subs i'm looking at something from Hsu, SVS, Outlaw or Epik. Model (and price) depending on which speaker set i go with.

Anyway that's where I'm at. Paradigm kinda slipped off list because it seems like brands like Ascend have better value for money and i'm all about that. (would these SVS/Emotivas compare against the paradigms tho?) I know there's no substitute for listening to them in-person but with these all being internet companies that's not possible (theres always returns).. so just appealing to the avs folks what do you think? Sound Quality is important but so is wow factor and i definitely want to surpass my old Paradigm setup.. I've been out of the HT loop for a decade so i figure that shouldn't be too hard with any of these?

Thanks in advance guys!

Yeah definitely, but since these are all speakers from internet based companies that's kinda difficult

I was mainly hoping somebody that is familiar with those 3 sets could at least give some personal thoughts on which one might have the best performance for the money. Obviously it's all subjective, but when direct evaluation is impossible getting an opinion from somebody that has heard 1 or 2 of these is the next best thing.

Yeah with those setups i was thinking about either the Epik Legend or one of the cheaper VTF units. I want a good punch but it doesn't need to blast the windows out. I'm sure either of those will offer more than the old Paradigm sub I had.. and that was pretty decent.

Yeah i'm probably leaning that way on the sub. It's not a huge area so probably any of those would be fine.

I'm still debating with the SVS vs. Emotiva vs. Ascend for the mains! It's a hard decision. Go with the set or the unmatched ascends.. hmmmm

That was my biggest concern. How big of a deal would it be having unmatched rears? Would an unmatched set of sierras be better than say the SVS set of matched?

I'd love some 100s but there's just no way i'm finding that in my budget. I keep an eye out for local used but most of the paradigms that show up are as old as mine so kinda pointless there.

OK i'm going to give up on the dipole speakers, it's just easier to go with a matching set.

I think i'm going to go with the Ascends w/HTM-200s for rears.

One final question.. with a $2200ish budget in mind which sounds better -

Sierra-1 LCRs and a $500ish sub (like the Outlaw LFM-1 Plus which is on sale for $500 shipped)

*OR*

CMT-340 LCRs and a nicer ($800-$1k sub.. like a VTF-15H.)

I'm thinking the sierra is the better way to go as my room isn't all that large and I'm sure the HSU designed outlaw should be plenty sufficient?

I'd imagine either setup should be better than my aging atoms.

CMT-340s do seem like the best bet but wife really, really, really wants the better music quality. Plus the whole ported thing is rearing its head as with some measuring looks like the center is going to be really close to the wall as my shelf isn't that deep.

Without plugs i don't think i could do the CMT-340s at all which sucks but I'd have to otherwise completely reconfigure my HT setup, but a new entertainment rack, etc and that would just blow the budget nutso high.

Other option would be a sealed speaker but the ascends look pretty attractive. They seem to get a lot more love than the runners up.. the SVS set or the Emotivas. So i'm still thinking the plugged sierras might be the option.

Why does this always have to be so complicated, sometimes i wish i could just goto best buy and buy whatever crap magnolia is selling and be happy like your average schlub. OK Maybe not, but at least it's simpler.