I'm looking to upgrade some Sony rear speakers I have. I've recently upgraded my receiver, and listening to lossless bluray tracks, I can definitely hear the shortcomings of the rears more so than before.

I was looking to get some bookshelves from Elemental Designs, but they are out of stock and I really don't want to wait. I'd like to find the best I can get for $150 or less. If anyone has any recommendations I'd appreciate it!

What are your front speakers?

Is $150 your price point for each or pair?

What receiver did you get?

My fronts are a pair of full sized (3-way, 12" woofer) Pioneers that I've actually had for about 10 years and still sound great. I also have 2 subs to support the fronts.

The receiver I just got is the Onkyo 607.

My price point is for a pair... I've been doing some hunting around and I'm considering a pair of Polk Monitor 40s for $130. Anyone familiar with these?

T-bone I think you would be better saving more money and replacing your fronts and then move Pioneer's as rears.If this is mostly for HT you want the front three to match sonic wise. Either way I think your better served upgrading your fronts for the long run. I know it's easy to get impatience but I guessing you have had these for awhile,what's a few more months in exchange for a nice set of speakers.

Yea...your just wasting your money building around the Pioneers.

Keep using what you have and start a speaker fund so that you can start all over.

If you insist on getting new rears and than you MUST get the same "type" of speakers you have for the front. You could just get two more fronts and use them as surrounds. Or check with Pioneer to see what matches up with what you have.

I say "must". Of course there is no speaker police. But IMO I strongly believe you are doing a disservice by mixing speakers.

I use this example a lot, say your watching the movie Top Gun and Maverick does one of those fly-by's and the sound goes across from behind you to the front left, center and out the right front. You don't want the sound of the plane to change as it does this fly-by. This is why you want matching speakers. And yes, you will notice. You would notice this more than you notice the difference between lossless and "lossy" sound.

I'm curious as to what you are using for a center and the sub?

Quoth the sheriff.