Probably silly questions from SUPER newcomer

[Beta Man]

best thing to do is start with a budget...... I, along with many others, can direct you towards some brands/models to check out.... but from there, it's all about you going out and listening to them, because audio isn't a one-size-fits-all deal...... you may like the sound of speaker A more than the sound of speaker B, where-as someone else may prefer B to A........

What is your Receiver, and Speaker budget? assuming 5.1 is the "immediate" goal..... you may want to buy the receiver, then get just the front speakers (Left, Right, Center) but that depends on what you want to get done right now.... and how long you're willing to wait/save.

Wife-Acceptance is always a hurdle too