Page 1 of Marantz/Yam receiver and speaker pack for ~ £700

OK folks. I realise that Westy has just put a new column out on the joys of bargain home cinema shopping, but I have a few questions (and I know this is a long post, so please bear with me). I`m currently using a Philips 28`` widescreen TV with a Tosh 220e DVD player. That`s it so far. Now I`d like to get a receiver and speaker pack that will work well with music and cinema. Here`s my problem:

1. As a newbie to amps and speaker packs, I was recently out at the only hi fi store in Belfast that I know of which lets you hear before you buy AND has the Marantz 5300 and Yams in stock. Now, I know the Marantz (now £250 at Richer Sounds) is much celebrated, but I have a question. I want to get a system up and going that will play both music and cinema well. (So, it would seem that I should go for the Marantz amp from some of your previous posts, etc.). But, when I went and auditioned this amp, with the Mordaunt Short Premier Package of speakers (that was the only speakers he had it hooked up to to hear), the whole thing sounded lifeless. When playing music videos off the store`s DVD sampler, it just didn`t have any umph, and you had to turn the volume a way on up to get decent sound. Treble seemed to be missing out, though I didn`t get a chance to try and play with it to see if increased treble would help it. It just sounded a bit flat. Now, my question is, is this because it needed more treble from the amp, or because the premier package is just not a good speaker pack? Or, because the Marantz doesn`t have the umph? Because . . .
2. When he let me hear the same DVD music video from the Yamaha amp 5360, with the cheaper £119 Yamaha speaker pack, there was quite a difference. You didn`t have to turn the volume up just as much, and the sound was far better even before playing with treble. (on the DVD sampler, that is)
3. True, when playing music direct from a cd, the Marantz did a bit better than before, and the Yam was good but a bit warmer sound. But having heard these two compared, I was perplexed. I don`t prefer the warmer sound as much, but am concerned about the Marantz`s abilities.

As I`ve said, I`m looking for a good amp and speaker pack for music and home cinema on a budget, but I can`t seem to get anywhere over here that has the combination of kit I`m interested in to try it out in shop before I buy. The mission speakers Westy suggests in his forum look interesting. They are about as big (perhaps bigger) as my wife would like in the house - so that gives you an idea of my limitations. Also, to mail order from the mainland costs around £20-25 a go, and so ordering stuff to try with the option of sending back if I don`t like it isn`t ideal.
Also, I`d want to go ahead and get a speaker pack that has a sub. Will pay over the £700 for wiring if it comes to it.

I would appreciate any help here before I leap out and drop this kind of cash.

Thanks!
Jim

This item was edited on Thursday, 11th September 2003, 21:02

No takers? :/
I read today in the latest What Hi Fi Sound and Vision that the MS Premier Speaker pack is hard to drive? So, I`m guessing??/ hoping that it`s the speakers, and not the Marantz 5300 as I really like the price tag at Richer Sounds. . .
Anyone had any experience with Elac Cinema 1, Mission M70/71/72/etc. or Aego 5 speaker packs?
Cheers.