Howard Ferstler wrote:

Here is my hypothetical price structure.

Speakers: five, at $200 each: $1,000 (the Ascend Acoustics
CBM-170 satellites

(snip a bunch of blather and opinion)

I'd at least go for something that can handle real
bass. Mirage and Paradigm make better sounding speakers.
The CBM-170s unfortunately *require* a sub to sound
propetly full-range, and that's not optimal. The sub
should only be required for movies as reinforcement.

Receiver: $400 (any number of mainstream brands will fill
the bill.

No problem here. Denon is probably the best of the bunch
at the low end, though they have about the worst tuner
section for FM that I've ever run across and a nasty
remote. Still, for A/V processing, it's great.

DVD/CD player: $200 (any number of mainstream brands will
fill the bill.

$100 should do it. You don't need anything fancy.

Subwoofer: $300 (this will get you a Hsu SFT-1, which is a
close sonic match for their VTF-2,

(snip a bunch of who gives a damn about your reviews
nonsense)

$300 won't get you a decent subwoofer. $600 would, though.

Wi $100 (this includes 16 AWG lamp cord for the speakers
and good Radio shack cables for interconnect use.

$50. I'd not even include this in the overall cost - just
$2000 plus wire and tax, as a roll of 12 gauge wire(500ft)
isn't even $30. 16 gauge is too small as well - 14 or 12
gauge is better and is only a dollar or two more per roll.