How can I get my Apple TV + speakers to play nice with regular TV?

Wouldn't placing the speakers near the tv conflict with his desire to have them behind him while watching tv? That's the only constraint that's making this tricky Yes. He will need wireless speakers to keep it that way, and it should still work with a receiver that can broadcast to them. Or long wires fed to them somehow. But I put the "if" in there as a subtle nudge to at least consider that option. I wouldn't want speakers behind me (other than surround speakers) but to each his own.

Does your TV have AUX out ports? Most newer ones do. If so, just get a receiver and speakers of your choice. Setting the TV to use AUX out will bypass the internal speakers. You don't have to connect any audio to the Apple TV.

I have a digital audio out port I'm not using, plus the standard audio/video components are free, as I'm using the HDMI ports instead. If I understand your solution, it means using a different set of speakers for the TV and Apple TV, which isn't ideal. Am I missing something?

I usually handle this by using https://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/. This allows me to stream a video to my AppleTV via AirPlay using VLC on my computer while getting the sound from my speakers that are connected to an Airport Express via an amplifier. Airfoil pretty much replicates AirPlay from Apple, but it works with a wider variety of programs, including browsers and video players. The one challenge with using Airfoil to stream sound while AirPlay streams video is that the sound is significantly out of sync naturally (slower or faster than the video), but using VLC player, you can speed up or slow down the sound to sync properly to the video.

The thing that is making it complicated is having the speakers at a different location than the TV. Having the audio come from behind you is not a common preference, so most of the standard solutions (of which an AV receiver as The Deej suggested is perhaps the most standard) will assume the speakers and TV equipment are in the same location. (That would, BTW, also allow you to eliminate the second Airport Express, since you could hook the Apple TV directly up to the speakers and stream everything through it). Is there any possible way you can run speaker wires from the front of the room to where the speakers are? If you can do that, it opens up a world of possibilities (basically all of the standard options, except with longer speaker wire).

The Deej--that makes sense and sounds straightforward with the right equipment. So it looks like I'm off to Best Buy to find an amplifier and wireless speakers. Thanks for the help! Also, that is a seriously impressive list of devices you have there.

So it looks like I'm off to Best Buy to find an amplifier and wireless speakers. Thanks for the help! You're welcome. One note before you go shopping: you don't need wireless speakers if you an place your speakers near the TV and receiver. You just wire the speakers to the receiver. You can get a lot more speaker for your money by just getting regular, non-wireless, non-powered speakers. The receiver will run the speakers. To be specific, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000OG4E1G/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ Very inexpensive, and they sound great with my setup. Best Buy should have something in that price range that will sound great. I have http://www.bestbuy.com/site/insignia-200w-2-0-channel-stereo-receiver/9693507.p?id=1218151628383&skuId=9693507. Also, that is a seriously impressive list of devices you have there. Which is why I have http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B004OVECU0/metafilter-20/ref=nosim/ to control everything.

Wouldn't placing the speakers near the tv conflict with his desire to have them behind him while watching tv? That's the only constraint that's making this tricky.