Best 5.1 set up for around $2500 (not including sub-woofer) - Thoughts?

There are tons of decent or better speakers out there. You'd be better off searching the previous million other similar threads first and then if still need be, come back with a more precise question or set of questions.

Plus, include seating distance, window locations, doors, openings into other rooms and other physical aspects of the room which may impact what sort of speaker design might be better given those particular circumstances. Also, what is your willingness to add physical room treatments (absorption, diffusion) and willingness to add more than one subwoofer, both of which can have a significant impact upon the quality of sound in the room in terms of evening out the response. The room itself is as important and sometimes even more important than your choice of speakers. Its impact can be that profound upon the resulting sound you will hear. If you are unwilling or unable to add treatments and have a difficult room, this might alter what sorts of speakers you should be considering. Some speakers are designed to interact less with room boundaries, which is a good thing when no treatments are installed or there are poor acoustical aspects to the room.
Edited by CruelInventions - 11/7/12 at 9:57am

???????????? Better than what.

http://www.sounddistributors.com/buynow.asp?action=detail&prid=687&crid=243&cat_name=Klipsch+Home+Theater+Systems

These are a great deal and probably can even get them cheaper plus a free sub to do with as you please. If you sell it your system is even cheaper. Love my RFii's!!

decent.

Buy a pair of Def Tech BP8060STs for $2K and get an 8040 center and a pair of 8040 surrounds for free.

Where can you get that deal?

http://www.audiolab.com/Definitive_Technology_BP_8060ST_Pair_2012_Holida_p/defbp8060stsys.htm?gclid=CLT7g4j3v7MCFQRnOgodxEMArA

I have a pair of Gallo Acoustics CL-3 speakers at one home that are quite incredible. They come very close to the sound quality of my Vandersteen 3A speakers at my other (larger) home, but only cost $1700 per pair.

A 5-channel system consisting of a pair of CL-3 speakers, a pair of CL-1 speakers, and a CL-C center speaker would cost you $2800. IMO this setup will outperform most $4000-5000 systems in every way!

You can order this system direct from the company in California, and get a 60-day ABSOLUTELY FREE trial, since they will fully refund and also pay shipping both ways if you return them.

I will bet, however, that they don't spend a lot on return shipping. I can't imagine anyone hearing them and not falling in love.

There is an excellent review article that talks about them in the July/August 2012 issue of the Absolute Sound, and also one at AVGuide.com

A little over budget at $2750, but you could get the Monitor Audio Silver RX set up. RX6's, RX Center and RXFX Surrounds. AA runs specials from time to time, might get a better price. Great setup for the buck!
Edited by Reefdvr27 - 11/8/12 at 11:36am

KidHorn, thank you very much. I have some 15-year-old Technics speakers that this would replace perfectly. The left/right are similar to the 8060's in that they are a subwoofer paired with a regular speaker, the surrounds are just barely adequate, and the center is just meh. Thing is my stand won't accommodate the width of that center channel speaker easily. But that can be remedied.

Anything else you'd like to add? I don't know anything about Definitive. My receiver is a nice new (as of last year) Pioneer Elite VSX-52.

Here's a review. The system has a larger center and surrounds but should give you an idea of the towers performance.
http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/review-definitive-technology-bipolar-supertower-speaker-system

I demoed the 8040STs a while back and thought they sounded really nice.

I just don't think I have enough room for them or I would give them a go.