[Greg Wormald]

In article , bob
wrote:

He's a former audio journalist who works for a speaker company now, so
obviously he's going to be pushing his brand. But on the electronics
side, he's not so dogmatic. Very good advice there.

Ha, Ha, Ha!
That's great. I haven't read anything so funny in a while.
He works for a speaker company and is 'objective' because he pushes
speakers, not receivers and amps. Some nice irony there (I hope).

To address the original issue:

In the audio-visual experience the visual experience occupies more brain
territory than the audio and hence is the overwhelming factor. So when
watching and listening, the listening is only important because it
supports the watching. This makes the "choice of/quality of" the audio
equipment less critical.

Listening to music alone of course leaves the whole attention on the
music and it's reproduction.

In your situation I would first audition the equipment listening to
music only and when I was satisfied with that reproduction I would then
try that equipment with audio-visual material.

You budget should easily encompass some good reproduction. Also follow
the other advice regarding room acoustics, this is very influential in
overall music and sound presentation.

Greg