Em, to get a closer approach to true surround with CDs or other 2-channel source material, use a mode such as DPLII or Neo:6 rather than 5/7-channel stereo. Those modes extract sound that actually came from surround areas and was put into the front channels(there was no place else to put it)and sends it to the surrounds where it belongs. The 5/7-channel stereo simply duplicates the entire front channel content in the surrounds.
It's understood that price is crucial, but check if a slightly more up-to-date unit with those surround modes is available within your budget.
