Can anyone recommend a good surround sound setup?

Well, as opposed to offering you cut-n-paste responses, let's consider your actual questions. All-in-one box systems are BAD. Any system where the disc player is build into the core module are cheap junk, will break down sooner rather than later, allow for little additional connectivity, and have lousy speakers that almost always use proprietary connectors, so that when the core module goes, the speakers are useless garbage. Oh, and most only give you 5.1 sound when playing a disc. Going for a proper home audio video receiver is ALWAYS the best way. You get much better build quality, a far better sounding unit, and it can run any speakers, while also allowing for more and better connectivity for outboard devices such as disc players, game systems, and so on. Now, how much you get in the way of connections and all the rest is in part determined by how far up the product lines you go; More basic models tend to have more basic a set of connections, so go look at some info about such receivers and pick one that has at least as much ability as you think that you will ever need. Consider long term issues there, just because you don't have a game system or a streaming device now, doesn't mean that you won't want to add one later on. Good makes in receivers include Pioneer, Yamaha, Denon and Harman Kardon, to name four. In speakers, go for speaker makers who specialise in speakers; While as I said, Pioneer and Yamaha make fine receivers, their speakers, not so much. Some good makes here include Polk, Infinity, JBK, and Klipsch, again, to name four. Good deals can also be found online, with sellers such as Amazon.com and Newegg.com. If budget is an issue, one can also start with a more upscale receiver, and fewer speakers, with more speakers to come later on, when there's more cash available. But, entry systems can be had for as little as around $400, half to the receiver and half to a set of speakers. Examples include the Pioneer 522K receiver and the Polk 6750 5.1 speaker set, each going for under $200 on Newegg. An additional point is that you will need to buy some cables. Speaker wire, such as 16 gauge, for the speakers, a 100 foot spool goes for under $20, a subwoofer cable for under $10, a digital optical audio cable (Which is what sends TV audio to the receiver) also under $10, and HDMI cables (Which send hidef audio/video from such as BluRay or DVD players to the receiver, then on to the TV), between $5 and $10 each. Doesn't necessarily go for the cheapest ones.

- Active speakers have built in amplifiers in the speakers (and/or built in amplifier in the subwoofer and the speakers plug into the subwoofer). Examples of active speakers would be computer speakers or sound bars. - Most active speaker systems have very little power and low end quality and no additional features other than producing audio. = Garbage (I don't recommend computer speakers or sound bar speakers). - Blu-ray or DVD home theaters in a box is a disc player (amplifier) that comes with and hooks up to compatible passive speakers with speaker wire. - All HTIB systems have very little power and very low end quality and not much additional features other than producing audio. = Garbage (I don't recommend HTIB systems). - What I do recommend are receivers (amplifiers) that hook up to compatible passive speakers with speaker wire, computers or blu-ray/dvd player or game consoles hook up to the receiver with a hdmi cable for audio then receiver hooks up to the tv with a hdmi cable for video. You can find good cheap speaker wire and hdmi cables at monoprice or amazon or newegg or tigerdirect. - If you notice below, brands that make good receivers do not make good speakers. = I don't recommend a system that bundles a receiver with speakers, but the Onkyo HT-(S3500 or S5500 or S6500 or S7500 .ect) system is not too bad. Your better off buying the receiver separate from the speakers (for surround sound try to match the speakers). Some examples of good 5.1 surround sound audio speakers. - Low end bookshelf 5.1 speakers = Polk Audio 5.1 Blackstone TL(1600 or 1900 or 2600); Klipsch 5.1 HD Theater (300 or 500 or 600); Energy 5.1 (Take Classic or RC-Micro or CB-10); MonoPrice 5.1 Premium 10565; M&K Movie; JBL SCS 145.2 or JBL CS480. Some examples of good 5.1/5.2 surround sound audio/video receivers. (Overall=low end). - Low end = Onkyo HT-RC430 or Onkyo TX-SR313; Pioneer VSX-(522-K or 523-K); Denon AVR-(1513 or E200); Yamaha HTR-3066 or Yamaha RX-(V373 or V375); - High end = Onkyo TX-NR(414 or 525); Pioneer VSX-(822-K or 823-K); Denon AVR-(1613 or E300 or 1713 or X1000); Yamaha HTR-(4065 or 4066) or Yamaha RX-(V473 or V475 or S600); Some examples of good 7.1/7.2 surround sound audio/video receivers. (Overall=mid end). - Low end = Onkyo HT-RC(R2295 or 460 or 560) or Onkyo TX-NR(515 or 616 or 626); Pioneer VSX-(1022-K or 1023-K or 42 or 43 or 60 or 70 or 1122-K or 1123-K); Denon AVR-(E400 or x2000 or 2113CI); Yamaha RX-(V573 or V575 or V673 or V675); - High end = Onkyo TX-NR(717 or 727 or 818 or 828 or 1010); Pioneer VSX-(1222-K or 1223-K or 1323-K) or Pioneer Elite-SC-(61 or 63 or 71 or 72); Denon AVR-(X3000 or 3313CI or x4000 or 4520CI); Yamaha (HTR-7065 or TSR-6750WA) or Yamaha RX-(V773WA or V775WA or A720 or A730 or A820 or A830 or A1020 or A1030); Some examples of good 9.1/9.2 surround sound audio/video receivers. (Overall=high end). - Low end = Onkyo TX-NR929; Pioneer SC-(1522-K or 1523-K); Denon (none); Yamaha RX-(A2020 or A20130); - High end = Onkyo TX-NR(3010 or 5010); Pioneer Elite-SC-(65 or 67 or 68 or 75 or 77 or 79); Denon AVR-4520CI; Yamaha RX-(A3020 or A3030);

Actually - thanks to Onkyo, there are some very good AV Receivers that start from $300-$500. Lots of features like 4 HDMI inputs, auto calibration, etc. You DO want to base your home theater around a full-sized AV Receiver. This gives you lots of options and growth. Below is my favorite decent box system: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/857955-REG/Denon_DHT_1513BA_DHT_1513BA_5_1_Channel_Home.html It runs about $599 to $499 when on sale and I think BestBuy also sells the kit. You do NOT need audiophile grade speakers for home theater. The ones in the link above are from Boston Acoustics - a company that exists to build speakers and will give decent sound. You have lots of spare inputs, you can upgrade the subwoofer or speakers if you want, etc.

Thanks guys, very informative answers. I know set ups in a box are crap, but I also know good receivers can be pricey...I'm just kicking ideas around right now, and I thought I'd ask, maybe someone knew of something I didn't know or think of...