Budget HT ba ang gusto ninyo....base on my limited knowledge this is what I would do.

1) Check if 5.1 nga ang model ninyo...meaning, does it have an RCA jack for 6 speakers (Left front, Right front, left rear, right rear, center and subwoofer)?

2) If yes, then you can try testing them out muna. If not then, you'll have to buy an amplifier system na 5.1 ready.

3) To test, I suggest getting these test vcd/dvd/cd's for 5.1 systems....it plays audio to all the speakers so machecheck mo if it works.

I PLAN to use an amplified speaker set from my computer. To match the stereo plug...I made an stereo jack na RCA ang kabilang plug so it would fit the RCA jack ng nextbase dvd ko. Since, iisang pair lang ang amplified speaker ko, i use it on a pair of plug at a time. front muna, then rear, the center and sub combination.

I haven't done this step 3....kasi di ko pa napupuntahan yung friend ko na may test cd for 5.1 system.

Now, if this works,

4) I'd buy an affordable amplifier system. I have a pair of 50 Watts rating na 12 inch speakers (8 ohms) which I plan to match to a 75-100 watts stereo amplifier...I'll probably use this for the subwoofer. Then I'll get 6 cheap (Alexan) 25 watt stereo amplifiers (for 8 ohm speakers) and match it to small 6 or 8 inch speakers (if my calculations are right, I'll need 2 speakers for each amplifier so that would be 12 speakers)...each amplifier would be allocated to each of the channels...the wattage of the speaker would be around 15-20 watts (8 ohms din) lang (rule daw ay half of the amplifier power rating).

then I'll be making my speaker boxes din. estimated cost less than P5K except speaker box.

hth