Darrin, welcome. We buy speakers for sound quality and receivers for features. Operated within their designed limits all competently designed amplifiers, including those inside receivers, don't add any audible sonic characteristics. Axiom speakers don't have any special requirements.

You can stay well under $2000 and find very full-featured units with an excellent performance/price ratio. I'd suggest that you consider units such as the Denon 3808 and the Onkyo 876.

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Enjoy the music, not the equipment.