Thank you all for the advice. The projector is Panny AE8000. They just want it to be a media/hangout room. When they watch movies, they say a theatre experience is not required but they would like to hear everything clearly and loud.
I'm going to see the KEF 203/2 tomo. How is Polk's LSIM series?
With a projęctor, presumably they have a special room for it. I don't see why they object to the full surround experience. And with a budget of $5000, I would get at least 5 speakers plus subwoofer(s). I personally would select 5 bookshelf speakers, one or a pair of SVS subwoofers, and a modest surround receiver (perhaps the low end of the Yamaha Aventage line, depending on what features were required/desired, and what particular speakers were selected). But they don't have to have the full surround experience, if they are dead set against it. If all you are getting is a pair of speakers and a receiver for $5k, you can have really nice speakers. But you can have very respectable quality bookshelf speakers and good subwoofers instead, which is what I would select for use with TV and movies. Now, if they are going to listen to it for music primarily, and if they are very picky audiophiles, then it might be best to spend it all on a really good pair of speakers and ąmplification appropriate to drive whatever is selected.
To put this another way, use dictates what I think is most sensible, and from what you have said, I think a surround system is the way to go. But obviously, what people want matters in the final decision, even if they would really be happier with something else instead. Of course, I obviously cannot know what would make them happiest, but I think a sound system for movies is much better with a center channel and surrounds than without them. If you were on a very tight budget, I would suggest just a pair of speakers and a receiver, but you have enough to get a very respectable surround system.
As for the Polk speakers, I suggest listening to them. They are a respected speaker, and at their price point of $750 each for the bookshelf speakers, they are likely a good value, and since Polk is often available discounted, they may end up being a very good value indeed.
However, I would personally very seriously consider these instead:
http://philharmonicaudio.com/philharmonicaudio/philpages/monitors.html
Three pairs plus a subwoofer or two from SVS should make a very nice system.
