He could keep an eye out for "open box items" at various electronics retailers.
Last year I stumbled onto an RCA MM36110 at Best Buy which (after a bit of haggling), I got for about $900. MSRP at the time was around $1800.
They can be returned for a number of reasons. The salesman told me that the original purchasers thought they had enough room for it in their entertainment center, then got it home to find that the sidemounted speakers made it to wide. Yeah I know, he could say anything, but all I know is that it has been a sterling performer for me for 12 months.
Good Luck,
Shaun