looking for performance speaker recommendations

Check out the package systems from (HSU Research), the HB-1 MK2 speaker systems are very easy to drive (you won't need a lot of power in a receiver to drive them), and the subs are some of the best budget subs around.

Use one of the many budget receivers with room correction...buy it used right here.

Matched speaker all around are very important...this gets you there, on or near budget.....just one opinion.

Dave

First of all, wall mounting will count out most speakers. You need something designed to be against a wall. That means definitely no rear port. I'd go for a sealed box.

Secondly, mounting up high means that you will have to angle them downward. Awkward to say the least. You will never have good imaging for stereo listening.

Third, mounting the fronts up high creates a really weird phenomenon: you see the picture in front of you but the sound doesn't relate to what you see. ie car crash in front of you but the sound comes from up high some where.

Fourth, high performance is a relative term-do you want loud, efficient, musical or what?

I'd give 3 suggestions here:
If theater is the main choice find a set of Gallo micro's, mount them up high and angle them down. It will fill the room, sound good and won't be affected by the walls.

If Music is more important-Put your center, right and left all very close to the TV. When you are really listening to music, just pull a chair into the sweet spot (if you can find one).

Go buy one of the sound bars like a Boston Acoustics. They sound good, go right under the tv and fill the room. Add a sub if you like.

Tip, hang speakers upside down so that the tweeters are on the bottom, angled down towards you. The closer to the height of the TV for the fronts, the better as noted above.

Here are some good choices for complete systems:

Epos AVS 5.1 System - Wow!

Quad L-lite - WOW!!

KEF KHT2005.3 - either stunning or funny egg shapes, depending on your taste - but great sound.

Aperion Intimus 5B Harmony SD - great sounding two-way boxes from the Internet!

Mirage MX 5.1 - Omni present sound.

Definitive Technology ProCinema 800 - great for movies, not quite up with others for music

B&W MT20 - will look and sound good in your groovy modern pad (buy the MT30 if can find used for your price - has better sub)

ACOUSTIC ENERGY AEGO T - Best Buy in many comparos

thanks for the responses thus far. i will take as many as i can get. this will give me grounds to do some research.

Elevick, to answer your questions: speakers will not have to be completely against wall, so rear port should be okay, but something to consider so thanks for pointing that out. sorry i did not mention that i plan to use a projector for the display. because of the large screen, speakers mounted high will still be close to screen height. and by performance, i mean accurate, musical, dynamic, etc.

Yes, I assumed you would use some sort of mounting brackets with swivel to dial in the sound stage. (rear ports not a problem)

If you have a fairly large room, and want to go 7.1, the (Enthusiast 3) system at $1,599 should do great.

You need a good balance between picture size, and sound size. A small television with huge sound doesn't work...a huge picture with small sound equally doesn't work....in other words, the sound impact should match the picture impact.

Dave