Aside from the fact that the speakers may need to be re-foamed, you're still dealing with 20-year-old electronics for the crossover network. And speaker technology has advanced considerably from the mid-80s. I would replace them. Choices: if you liked the sound of the B&Ws, check out their DM-603. Other brands to check out, if you have access to better audio stores, include (alphabetically) Energy, KEF, Mission, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, PSB. There also may be some smaller manufacturers whose speakers you'd like (like the Meadowlark Swift or France's Triangle). Enjoy the search!

regus thank you for the suggestion of a boom box since I am thinking it may be a good idea for that room or even for my home office room. I decided to look again for a smaller stereo for my spare bedoom since I just don't like having my stereo take up so much room and it looks like a pair of nice speakers are costly anyway and then have to be compatible with my system. Does anyone have an opinion on the five "stereo's" I narrowed my search down to so I can back to focusing on getting my work done at night instead of researching? There have less power than I had been looking at but they are the size I want and have decent reviews. Sony MP3 CD Boombox, Model ZSSN10S $79.99 in black and silver. Has very good ratings especially with radio reception and I like the way it looks. Sony ZS-S2iP Boombox for the iPod (white) that is pretty and maybe in the future I could buy an iPod for $89.95 Onkyo MC35Tech Executive Shelf System with 3 CD Changer. Has very good ratings of the sound quality despite only 20 watts per channel and 70 watts per the speakers. I like the way they look, their small micro size and maybe the $319.99 price is worth it? They have an attachment for an iPod and play MP3 files, etc. Then there is the JVC DVD Micro Componenet System in either the JVC UXg50 discontinued model selling by some places for $129.99 that plays 5 CD's and is very compact also with 240 watts of power and decent reviews or the JVC UXg70 that is the newer model with reviews not as good but good that also plays 5 CD's. I can place links in a posting if anyone wants to help me. I have so much work to do and I guess getting that dresser for that spare room and trying to make it look nice is having me really want a smaller stereo.

A lot of movies are recorded in a "5.1" format, in which there are two front speakers, a center speaker (for dialog and continuity of sound effects), two back speakers (providing surrounding sound), and one providing low-bass sound (the .1). There also are 6.1 and 7.1 formats, though they are not that popular in commercial releases. It would be difficult (but not impossible) to electronically simulate the various sound delays and the "feel-it-not-hear-it" bass that is part of the theater experience. Two good stereo speakers will provide a great improvement over TV speakers or home-theater-in-a-box. Two good stereo speakers and a matched center channel would, IMHO, get you 70-80% of the way there. But (again, IMHO) 5.1 is required to properly decode Dolby-encoded video.

hboy, Forgo that Onkyo Tx-8511 in favor of a Russound Abus system. Either single source, or multi-source will get you the control that you desire. And you'll be able to have the music come on in only the room you're using, rather than have it come on all over the place. Use the Abus with the XM tuner, and the CD player (and possibly the cable box for music as well). Add some speakers and you're all set. Here is a link that might be useful: Russound.