Help a newbie (me) select components for my first set up!

[ariasinger1]

Hello Audioholics!
I am a young aspiring audiophile with a small budget, and I am looking to put together my first home theater and listening set up over the course of the next few months. I'm a professional opera singer, and so I move around quite a bit, and my sonic priorities revolve around reproducing the sound of an orchestra. 2.1 audio is my friend, and my space limitations (small, city apartment) make this all the more practical. I currently own a pair of Fluance SX6 bookshelves, and a Sherwood stereo amplifier to drive them. I'd like to replace them with a proper AV receiver (for ease of component integration), and a pair of nice L/R speakers and a Subwoofer. The other appeal of an AV receiver is the upgrade path given that I move into a larger space someday.
Given that my priorities are upgradeability and sound quality, I'm guessing the first place I should prioritize my budget is the receiver? I have been looking at the lower tier Yamaha Aventage receivers, but again, I'll readily admit that I need seasoned advice.
On that same foot (of being generally unknowledgeable), I have been looking at huge variety of bookshelf and tower speakers, and I don't really know where to begin. Klipsch, Polk, and Elac have a good bang-for-buck reputation, but I am aware of ID manufacturers and that they may pose a superior value.

All of this to say:
I can spend up to about 1000 dollars total, and my sonic priorities lay around reproducing an orchestra (detailed, dynamic, and readily forceful when called upon), the WAF, and a smaller form factor for apartment living. I am happy to forgo a subwoofer until my budget allows for something nice from HSU or SVS. What would you recommend to an initiate? Specific hardware suggestions are appreciated, but general counsel is also valued! Places to start looking? Speakers to go through the effort and hassle of auditioning?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[shadyJ]

A high bang-for-the-buck two channel system would be a couple Klipsch RP-260F speakers and an AVR with the remainder of the budget. You don't have to be picky with AVRs for a two-channel system, they will all behave similarly in this price bracket. Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Sony, any of them will work fine. The Klipsch will definitely have enough bass to tide you over until you get a sub, but you probably won't feel the need for a sub. If you want some bookshelf speakers that have some very good bass extension, look at the Monolith K-BAS speakers, very good bass for the size and price of those speakers. A good deal going on right now is the outlaw audio BLSv2 speakers, $550 shipped, those are very high fidelity for that price, and they have reasonably good bass extension as well.