Thanks for the heads up Zarak. I contacted Sony and they gave me the same clearances you mentioned: 4" sides and 12" top. I talked with a techie friend who works for Magnolia HiFi's home theater installation department and I'm going to design a passive vent on the top of the cabinet to abate the heat issue. Other than that, I think that with all of the forum's input and a couple of other reviews I've seen, I think the Sony is going to be the best choice for the buck.
Thanks again,
Sips