Upgrade Receiver Speakers

I have tried finding more specific information and have not been able to come to a specific answer. I apologize if this is already answered in a previous thread.

I bought the Onkyo HT-3300 2 years ago. It comes with the HT-R380 Receiver and the HTP-380 speaker package. The main complain I heard about this HTIB was its passive subwoofer. However, for me, this set delivers a lot of bass for my apartment. In efforts not to disturb my neighbor downstairs at night, I usually try to turn the Subwoofer and Bass settings to -12db and -8db respectively. I still get some vibrating bass, but I do agree it doesn't sound deep.

The 5 speaker system is a single full range driver, but I believe it lacks clarity, crisp sound and more and more this gets more annoying. Also, the dialogue coming from the center speaker is not good at moderate volume level, so I have tried increasing it by +2db and lower my front LR to -2 db, rear at 0db, and increasing the volume. It helps but still bluray movie sounds are not great. The Bose HTIB at best buy sounds amazing by comparison.

More to the point, I am ok with my receiver as it currently has all the features I need. I read that replacing the speakers can go a long way, and my budget is tight, and I am still in an apartment. I looked into the Monoprice 9723 5.1 which according to CNET perform as good as the Energy Takeclassic 5.1. To my understanding they would be a huge upgrade, but I am not sure if they are compatible with my receiver. I don't want to damage either the speakers or the receivers. Also, my receiver is for a passive subwoofer, and the monoprice/Energy are active so I thought about leaving my current subwoofer in place and replace center, front and rear only.

The specs for the receiver are as follow:
All channels: 110 watts minimum continuous power per channel, 6 ohms; Dynamic power 160 w (3 ohms front), 125 W (4 ohms front), 85 w (8 ohms front). Frequency response: 20 hz - 50 KHz/+1 db. Speaker impedance 6 to 16 ohms.

The specs for the speakers:
Impedance 8 ohms, 115hz - 20 Kh; maximum input power 100 w, recommended amplifier power 20w - 100w; sensitivity 89db.

Any help/comment is appreciated. Thanks.

$300. Because of the surround sound, I would like 5.1. I like when I hear the sound effect from behind. Also, when playing xbox/pc games, the sound placement is very important. I don't think 2.1 or 3.1 can get the same surround effect.

But I'm looking more for 5.1 or 5.0 (I am not sure an active sub is compatible with my receiver). I recognize the bookshelf speakers are a bigger improvement, but I am left with a bad center, and my priority is for movies and games, not music. I've read great things about the Energy Take Classic 5.1, and I wonder how much better are they compared to my stock speakers.

It didn't occur to me, but that makes a lot of sense to focus on the front 3. I appreciate the suggestions above. I still would like to keep it under $300. Since I live in an apartment, my target is to have a clearer, crisper sound, smooth bass without being overly powerful (so I don't disturb my neighbor) and a much improve dialogue from the center. I guess moving to a woofer/tweeter type speaker over my current full range single woofer may help that.

All of this speaker suggested recommend a maximum amplifier power of 100w/80w. My amplifier says it has 110 watts minimum continuous power per channel. Does that mean those speaker are not compatible with my receiver?

Thanks for all the advice. I just ordered the Pioneers, the center and a pair of bookshelves for $187 on Amazon. I hope this is not overkill as the speakers look huge for my apartment living room. I was tempted to get 3 BIC America FH6 LCR. the horn tweeter sounds like they would deliver better dialogue listening from movies than the dome, or maybe I'm just misinformed. At the end, I spent $100 less than intended, and it doesn't look like I compromised.

I will use the SP-BS22 as my front. If all goes well, I may upgrade and buy the towers SP-FS52-LR for the front and complete the speaker series package.

Based on all the advice received here and the excellent priced, I've been enjoying the Pioneers (Center with pair of bookshelves for the front) for over a month now and it was a HUGE improvement from my previous ONKYO surround speakers. (I kept the sub and rear satelites). I used it almost exclusively for Movies and Gaming. Dialogue is much improved, clear bass from fronts (no longer booming,muffed, rattling bass), better highs, I can hear sounds i didn't hear before.

Amazon has discounted the center speaker all the way down to $70 (I bought them at $100, they retail $130 I think) so I'll see if I get $30 back through my discover card price protection benefit, since it is within 90 days. Now, Amazon has the Floorstanding SP-FS52 for $87 and even though I am happy with my bookshelves, that price is very enticing.

1.- How much of an improvement are they from the bookshelves?

2.- Also, I wouldn't mind waiting to buy them later when hopefully i have a better space to place them (i am constrained living in an apartment, but may move to a house in a year or two) but I am afraid they'll be discontinued like the 51s where.

Thanks,

Alfredo