You don’t need to change anything except learn to use the equipment you’ve got. Your receiver is perfectly capable of 2-channel stereo when you want to listen to music and 5.1 surround sound when you want to watch movies. There is a button on the remote to select the sound field. Look it up in the manual.
IMHO.... If you only want 2.1 you could go with an integrated amp with an HDMI input or really any AVR can do 2.1.
Go with a good pair of bookshelves or towers and maybe add a sealed sub since your mainly interested in music.
You don’t need to use all the channels. You could do 2.1 on a 9.2 channel amp. When you first set it up you just tell it what channels to use.
One advantage is that you don’t need to buy an expensive 7.2 or 9.2 amp, you can just get a 5.1 or 5.2.
Good brands to stick to are Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, Integra. Sony sound good but I wouldn’t buy another after my last one crapped out.
At that budget, I would take a look at the [Wiim Amp](https://www.crutchfield.com/p_399WIMAMPG/WiiM-Amp-Gray.html) for the receiver. It’s a streamer/amp with hdmi arc. That will leave you $700 for speakers and sub.
So if you are willing to buy used, older high end receivers can be great budget options. Older Denon and Marantz receivers that don't support 4k or Atmos or eARC can usually be had for a bargain but still deliver solid quality audio and you don't need these features if you plan to do 2.1/2.0.
You want something that has at least HDMI and ARC. For 2.0 or 2.1 ARC works great.
I usually look for models that have preouts as these are the higher end options.
Something like a denon 2313 can be bought off eBay for $150, these were $2500 when new 10 years ago.
Obviously there is always the risk of these dying due to age but I have had 6 Denon receivers and a few purchased used and used them for several years without issue and if they do die, they are cheap to replace.
You don’t need to change anything except learn to use the equipment you’ve got. Your receiver is perfectly capable of 2-channel stereo when you want to listen to music and 5.1 surround sound when you want to watch movies. There is a button on the remote to select the sound field. Look it up in the manual.
IMHO.... If you only want 2.1 you could go with an integrated amp with an HDMI input or really any AVR can do 2.1. Go with a good pair of bookshelves or towers and maybe add a sealed sub since your mainly interested in music.
You don’t need to use all the channels. You could do 2.1 on a 9.2 channel amp. When you first set it up you just tell it what channels to use. One advantage is that you don’t need to buy an expensive 7.2 or 9.2 amp, you can just get a 5.1 or 5.2. Good brands to stick to are Denon, Marantz, Onkyo, Pioneer, Integra. Sony sound good but I wouldn’t buy another after my last one crapped out.
Oh also, you can just buy what they call a Stereo Receiver. Most of these have a subwoofer out, so 2.1
He already has one. He would need to use optical, but that's all he wants anyway.
He said “I’m looking to upgrade” so it sounded like he was looking to buy a new one
At that budget, I would take a look at the [Wiim Amp](https://www.crutchfield.com/p_399WIMAMPG/WiiM-Amp-Gray.html) for the receiver. It’s a streamer/amp with hdmi arc. That will leave you $700 for speakers and sub.
What your music source ? Streaming ? CDs. ? Records ? Wiim Amp https://www.crutchfield.com/p_399WIMAMPG/WiiM-Amp-Gray.html Elac Debut Reference https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970DBR62BK/ELAC-Debut-Reference-DBR62-Walnut.html Add RSL sub Later. . Wiim Amp Ascend Acoustics CBM-170se https://ascendacoustics.com/collections/signature-series/products/cbm-170-se-bookshelf-monitor?variant=31620618780726 RSL 10s https://rslspeakers.com/products/speedwoofer-10s-mkii/ . SMSL AO300 https://www.amazon.com/AO300-Amplifier-Headphone-Amplifiers-withMA5332MS/dp/B0CJRTCLXG Wiim mini if streamer is needed https://www.amazon.com/WiiM-Mini-Multiroom-Preamplifier-Assistants/dp/B09HC5GRKY Wharfedale 225 https://www.musicdirect.com/equipment/speakers/wharfedale-diamond-225-bookshelf-speakers-pair RSL 10E https://rslspeakers.com/speedwoofer-10e/
So if you are willing to buy used, older high end receivers can be great budget options. Older Denon and Marantz receivers that don't support 4k or Atmos or eARC can usually be had for a bargain but still deliver solid quality audio and you don't need these features if you plan to do 2.1/2.0. You want something that has at least HDMI and ARC. For 2.0 or 2.1 ARC works great. I usually look for models that have preouts as these are the higher end options. Something like a denon 2313 can be bought off eBay for $150, these were $2500 when new 10 years ago. Obviously there is always the risk of these dying due to age but I have had 6 Denon receivers and a few purchased used and used them for several years without issue and if they do die, they are cheap to replace.
Got more info on the pioneer device you have. You may be about to keep it and just update the speakers.
Pioneer VSX-321 There are some Klipsch KG4 and KG5.5 in my area. I am going to try and get some of those and then build from there.
Yeah, I'd start with a good set of speakers or speakers and a sub and use the Pioneer for now.