Thoughts on this combination. . .

[Travis]

$250 for sub
$200 for fronts, center and surrounds
$450 for AVR
seems a bit lopsided.

If you are set on the AVR work from there. Sure the 5.1 in the OP is probably OK, but I think a different 2.0 setup would be better. Even if you aren't listening to music, 2 solid front speakers will bring a lot of joy and happiness into your life while watching movies.

I believe in, you get what you pay for, and $200 or $300 for 5 speakers doesn't sound like quality. I've never heard Fluance speakers in action and have never heard of the brand, so I really can only speculate. But I have heard similarly priced stuff from Radio Shack, Future Shop, Best Buy, etc. They were not worth $200. You may get them and have a desire to replace them very soon afterwards.

Subs aren't all they are cracked up to be either. Shouldn't spend more on that than all the other speakers. Many people run systems without a sub, Hi-Fi (2.0) or even 5.0, and really enjoy their Blu-rays. If I was building piece by piece, the sub would be my last purchase.

Building piece by piece is where I am going. I'd get the AVR for $450 and then get 2 towers, or bookshelves with stands, for $450. When finances are better you can get surrounds, then a center, then a sub. Take the time to build a system that you can have for 10 or 20 years. Buy cheap. Buy twice!

2 channel is a good start, and if you create a thread about which pair of fronts to get for $450 that will be used in a HT setup someday, you'll get a tonne of suggestions.

I paid $350 for my front pair almost 10 years ago. I was planning on moving them to the surround position after buying bigger fronts. Never bought bigger fronts. I was too happy with them. My living room wasn't huge and they filled up the space with excellent sound. So, I just bought another pair for the back. Even with the sub turned off, and my sub is great, they still sound awesome.