It is so hard to make this recomendation because it all depends on your listening habits and how good your ear is. I still consider myself a newbie so, like you, I am still tinkering around with the upgrades.
What I found in my short history is that the cheaper stuff really stands out as just that, cheap. Now, don't get me wrong cheap does not mean bad instead it means that you can hear the differances. I have an Outlaw 1050. Although a very good reciever, once I upgraded to a 3803 there was a night and day dif in the sound qualtiy. The Denon put out a MUCH clearer, cleaner sound to my ears. All in all this made a world of dif to me. I will be moving to seperates soon and I am hoping that that will give me the same night and day change as the Outlaw to 3803 change made.
With all that in mind, what are your listening habits? If 2 cha is all you are looking at have you looked at some tube amps? Amazing sound.
