The F300 tower I posted is virtually identical to the RBH TK-5CT with only ever-so-subtle sonic differences resulting from different driver material (but still optimized for performance). Those things retailed for 950 a pair in brick and mortar establishments, and even the internet direct version still retails for 800 dollars. The only reason that you can get the whole 5.1 set is because they've been clearing out the line (hence why they only have the rosewood veneer)
Maybe they won't do a full reference level with perfect dynamics, I won't make the assumption they will. But they won't sound poor at all or take away from the cinematic experience. I mean i'd love to have some truly amazing dynamic speakers, like JTR Triple 8s (3000 a pair, never mind ), Seaton Catalysts (7000 a pair IIRC), RBH T-30LSE (15000 a pair), etc powered by some XPA-1s or ATI or denon separates amps but realistically speaking, speakers are a law of diminishing returns and 1500 for a set if you shop properly / settle for aesthetic mediocrities (IE rosewood veneer on the EMPs, cosmetic scratches on the refurb marantz), while still a bit low, is still a lot better than what the average person will end up with as they go into best buy with more money than that. Speaking of those JTRs, they basically prove that you can't make a raw correlation between dynamics and price - the threads over on avs basically show them being far more dynamic than some absolutely high end Revel Ultima Studio speakers - speakers that cost 5 digits! I don't know if I would personally drop 9000 dollars on a 5.0 set of speakers just so the blasts in open range sound amazing. I do know that i wouldn't switch from my ~2000 dollar 7.0 set of speakers (not including a sub or receiver mind you) to anything less expesive than saidg JTRs for HT (Although for music listening, a pair of salk songtowers might be nice)... as the difference isn't that big. Then again, my personal towers handle dynamics better than more expensive speakers.
Reference level ain't everything either - most of us listen at quiet levels and "turn it up" to around 6 db below reference level anyways which can open up dynamics/headroom. Some people on this board with impressive systems have said they'd still be happy with some behringer 2030ps and a dayton 120 - which I don't think is as good as the system I listed - and is still a very good system.
But yes, if the OP wants to multiply his budget two- or five-or- ten-fold, I can definitely help him choose a much more incredible setup. And if he wants to multiply it 50-fold, we can even throw in some Thigpen rotaries crossed with quad tapped horn subs, 40000 speakers, professional acoustic treatments, acoustically transparent screens, etc. And after that, all of us with "mere" 5000 dollar speaker systems would be left jealous at our lack of dynamics, lack of precision, less enveloping soundstages, less precise imaging, imperfect signal to noise ratios, etc.
There's different tiers, and there's great and awful choices in each and every one of them. I agree his budget is a bit on the low side, but that doesn't mean he'd be getting into something unimpressive. It's still a bigger budget than the average person who thinks 450 dollar HTIBs are too expensive for "some cheap sound effects". It's a nice enough budget to get started into true home theater before dreams about aformentioned thigpens become a reality.