Hi Danzilla!
Budget? Ha! As little as possible for as much as possible? Mind, I'm upgrading the whole kit at once. And my budget is already upside down. (Don't tell my Lady!) The rule of thumb of speakers being 2/3 the budget and your receiver 1/3 or whatever(3/4-1/4?)?... Bought my Marantz SR6012 on sale for $900 over the summer. was originally gonna go with the 5012 reg price 999. So, $3K was meant to be my speaker budget. Then I was thinking, "well its actually a $1500 AVR so I should fudge it up to $4500."
Then as I shopped and learned and learned and shopped, I kept sliding upwards. Now I'm basically shopping for my
forever speakers and subs, and an amp (front 3), with the knowledge that I'm probably going to upgrade my AVR to a Surround Pre/Pro in a year or so, along with a separate amp to run my 4 surrounds. (I am pretty starry-eyed about the RMC-1.)
Anyway, none of that answers your question.
If I were to buy
7.0 Setup: Emotiva Airmotiv rig for $2130, I would have no concern dropping 3 at this point on dual PB or PC 4000s. (Again though, an svs rep thought dual 4000s might not handle my room, so Outlaw or Hsu duals... still no concern.) Likewise, a Monitor Audio Bronze rig would run $2400. Review after review, I kept crossing things off my list and creeping up in budget. My main front runners have become Monitor Audio Silvers at $5300.
So then, how much more for the subs, and how much for that amp?
I am looking at another option that might give me a full 7.2 system, fully matched, at around $7K I'm hoping. All told, I would prefer not spending over 2 on dual subs, but outlaw shipped is $2800. I can drive to Hsu and back same day for $1749 plus gas and a phat lunch in LA -- Koreatown, perhaps?...
I like that FV15HP, too. Also, the FV18. I have concerns that the FV25HP might lack a little power for my room, though.
You however, have two PB4000s... and love them. What are your thoughts? Are they doing what you want, and how you want?
I've been warned by many of our friends here about mixing subs... Why do you want to mix pairs? I would think you should get 2 more of the same so everything matches tight. Anybody care to support or rebut, please?
So Danzilla, did I answer your question? It will probably be Outlaw or Hsu that wins my business, unless this other company impresses me.
Cheers!