Man, what a great forum! Here I thought this thread would sink to bottom of the archives never to be seen again
Thanks for everyone's input! I think I'm going the speaker-first route and try the Rainbow Speakers that Scott sells at LaJolla Audio (staying mindful not crank the tunes too much yet with the impedance differences). A little pricey at $120 a pair, but they're true 'drop-in' install (even use the factory harnesses!), and a "5 fits nicely where only "4's fit in other American/Japanese brands. Seems like the obvious choice for a start. A specific thanks to Scott for his input on these.
As soon as they're in, I'll report the results for you all. Should be ordering them next week sometime.
best regards,
- Ryan