Most of the internet dealer brands (ID) offer 30 day trial periods. Some even will cover shipping. There is no substitute for hearing with your own ears in your own space. Also realize that speakers need to break in when they are new.
imho you get more speaker for the money buying direct. In blind shootouts some of the lower priced ID speakers have beaten very expensive brands you can only buy brick&mortar.
Also, sound systems are like suspension - it is in fact a system and all the parts interact. You can't get away with great speakers and a crappy amp. It is only as strong as the weakest link. I don't believe in the $500 speaker cables, but 24guage wire doesn't cut it. Get a good high current amp (I've got a Cambridge Audio 540R v3 receiver en route
www.cambridgeaudio.com, and I've always like NAD) to drive the speakers. If your budget allows, go separates. If you're controlling video it gets very complicated these days. HDMI is the new standard but adoption and application is somewhat over the map. There are varying specs as well (1.3a being the current one). It is not like the good old days of 2-channel audio...