BH, since you asked "Where would my $1,000 best serve me", I'll respond that my view is that you'd be best-served by using perhaps half of it for a receiver whose features meet your needs and using the rest of the money for CDs, DVDs etc. which will make a real difference. Don't be overly concerned about maximum power that you'll likely never use. Don't be concerned at all about "SQ"; as properly controlled blind listening tests have indicated, if the frequency response is flat from 20-20KHZ and the noise and distortion levels are inaudibly low(common these days in even quite modestly-priced equipment), the amplification is audibly transparent and no differences are discernible.
