Andrew wrote:

I want to listen to music only and would like to ask:

if I have $1500-$2000 (or £1000-£1250)) to spend - is it better to buy a
stereo or surround (DTS or Dolby Pro Logic II?)?

Let's assume you spend at or near the top amount you
indicated. In that case, ProLogic II decoding with
two-channel sources (assuming that the parameters in the
processor are adjustable or the factory defaults are sane)
will nearly always sound better than two channels playing
alone, even if the five speakers involved cost the same as
the two used with stereo.

This does, however, assume that the center-channel speaker
is a decent one (as good as the L/R mains, at least down to
the bass range where the center will route the bass to the
mains or sub) and that it is located properly: not too high
up and preferably oriented so that the horizontal radiation
pattern is not compromised.

A number of companies offer speaker packages (Ascend
Acoustics is one, and they also offer Hsu subwoofers; Boston
Acoustics is another; NHT is another; BG is another still;
and still another is Axiom, but as I noted there are still
more) that should work with you just fine. Any number of
modestly priced mainstream receivers (Yamaha, Pioneer, JVC,
NAD, Sony, etc.) will also work fine with those speakers, as
will any number of moderately priced DVD/CD players. You can
get a fine-sounding player for under $150 these days, and a
workable receiver might cost only $400, and most speakers
are sold for less than list price. It would be easy to have
a solidly decent 5.1 system for about $2000.

You can get very good results within your price range, and
DPL II has the potential to deliver the musical goods better
than straightforward two-channel stereo.

Don't let anyone tell you that two somewhat more expensive
speakers will work better in this situation than five
moderately priced satellites and a good but not really
expensive subwoofer. (One good Hsu sub lists factory direct
for only $300, and the satellites made by some of the
companies I indicated would cost only a few hundred bucks
for a set.)

As a product reviewer for The Sensible Sound, I have heard
too many mid-grade satellite/sub combinations solidly hold
their own against some really upscale systems to believe
that the best sound requires big money. If you go the budget
route you get those three additional speakers (center and
surrounds) and those, added to the left/right mains, will
make for a much improved sense of hall space, envelopment,
and soundstage focus than what you get with two-channel
stereo.

Howard Ferstler