Got a promotion at work, and the wife said I can get some new toys
Looking to upgrade my playback system. Currently I do most of my listening in the car or on my computer speakers either upstairs in the loft or at work. The loft has an iMac that I picked up an M-Audio Firewire Audiophile for so I can listen to 24-bit recordings and process my 24-bit files through Creative iTrigue speakers that IMO sound pretty darn good (keep in mind that I've never had a HQ playback system). Downstairs I've got an older Aiwa all-in-one bookshelf system that I'd like to upgrade to a decent to HQ 24-bit / 16-bit primary listening system. The room layout is attached. The house is an open floor plan, so the kitchen, breakfast nook, dining room, and entry are all open to the living room. The living & dining room are carpet and the kitchen, breakfast, and entry are tile right now, but I'm going to pull up the carpet and install laminates in the next month or two. Additionally, I'd like to install a set of cheap to moderate outdoor speakers on the patio that can be driven from the same system.
The tv/stereo will sit on the wall on the right, denoted as the rectangle. The speakers are denoted by the circles. I figure budget will be from $1000 to $1500. I wish I could have picked up the Grace M901 on Audiogon last month to run as the main component, but didn't have the funds then and I don't think I can justify $950 for the one up now. I've read great things about the Sony str-daX000es series units, and figure a series 3 or 5 would be a decent starting place. I've also read great things about the Von Schweikert VR-1's (wish I had the ok from the wife earlier in the week to have grabbed the VR-3's on Audiogon!). I've heard good things about the Maggie MMG's, but I have reservations about their appearance. The wife won't be up for anything that doesn't blend in. I figure bookshelf speakers would be less obtrusive, but I wonder if they will sound good in this room.
Ultimately, I want a system that I can enjoy a live show listening experience in the comfort of my home. I've thought about picking up a squeezebox as well so that I can playback from the mac and stream internet radio without the mac. If I can figure out a system that includes a cd/dvd player within budget that would be great, but I guess not a necessity right now. Any advice would be appreciated.