Is your plan to build a 5.1 system, or are you sticking with 2 channel?
If 2 channel is your goal, don't waste your money on a 7.1 reciever with a thousand bells and whistles you'll never use. Find yourself a nice 2 channel integrated amp, or amp/pre-amp combo. I just bought a Rotel RA-1062 for a bedroom system and paid less than $500 for a used unit. I've seen Rotel RC-1070/RB-1050 combos available on audiogon for under $700.
If you are planning a full 5.1 or 7.1 system ignore everything I just said.
