Ok, I have to weigh in on this one. if you haven't persoanlly heard the difference between a budget AVR and a really good AVR or in particular a pre/pro/amp setup then i suggest you find a way to do so or not be so quick to make such broad sweeping statements as JohnK and others have and continue to make. JohnK, you are obviously very well read on audio gear and music but what systems have you heard and or compared? I think by the way you and others preach this nonsense that its very limited.

The case really comes to point when talking about big, power hungry speakers with low ohm requirements such as the M80's as a very good example and there are many others that are much more demanding. I suspect Mdrew will have alot of problems getting any where near his Mirantz' performance AND sound from that baby Yamaha avr, not gonna happen with M80's.

Emotiva DMC1, MPS-1 ,M80v2 ,Klipsch RC64,Mirage Omni260 surrounds,Paradigm PW2200 sub