I love home audio. I actually kind of enjoy it a little more than car audio. Except I spend all my time on here.
My current receiver is a Pioneer 822 5.1. It was one of CNET's top rated budget receivers. I really don't feel a need to get 7.1 or 3D but that is just me. HDMI is so helpful when it comes to reducing wires and it is nice to switch sources with just one button on a remote. (Xbox 360, Blu-Ray, HD cable box, PC).
My system is pretty budget as I found some Advent Audio towers on CL from a home audiophile that I got for $30 (steal). He also demo'd his new setup for me when I bought them. My surround are the Dayton outdoor 3-ways, but I got these from a buddy at Radioshack for half price and they are labeled Auvio. Center channel is the Dayton one from Parts and my sub is the Dayton 100.
I have a budget system now because I am a student and I wanted to upgrade from the typical HT in a box setup. Once I get a new place with a garage that I can finally build boxes and towers I will spend some more $$$. I want to build some dual 8'' towers, but picking the drivers is the hard part.
I have heard the Dayton woofers are very nice. But there are tons of others like Seas, Morel, Peerless, etc... Tweeter options open up too. You can do horns, ribbons, etc.
Onkyo, Pioneer, Denon and Yamaha make some great receivers. Just go to AVS forum like mentioned above and search on the interwebs for what will suit you. The nice thing about home audio is that you can do some pretty crazy things as far as subwoofers go. Since you are not as limited for space as you are in a vehicle. I plan on doing a folded horn enclosure.