Bruce, your reference to the "lame" sound with music is a bit ambiguous. If you're speaking of a HT receiver operating in straight stereo mode, there's no reason why using the HT receiver would result in any difference with music than using a stereo receiver. If, as some replies assumed, you mean using ambience extraction(DPLII, etc.)or DSP processing on music and you don't like any of the results, then just be sure none of those modes are on when you listen to music(you should be aware that some receivers automatically apply virtual surround processing when surrounds are set "none").
