Really depends on what other features are important to you? The advice on pre-outs is critical but partly off - if you do any digging (or have any luck) you can find very capable mid-level units in the $400-500 (your price - $899+ list) that are full-featured & have pre-outs. For example, some Pioneer (non-Elite) or Yamaha (HTR-7065 for one) can be had online or in Costco and fit that bill. Then you just get a 2- or 3-channel external amp and you're good to go. BTW, if the receiver uses Class D that's not all bad - you're mostly just driving ~3 channels for HT with some spillover for the others. Any of those receivers (w/ the external amp) can handle that and you just cannot tell any supposed Class D differences for surrounds...
New HT Receiver
Building a dedicated 7.1 ht room and need advice on a quality receiver. Will have separate 2 channel system so this is really JUST HT. will likely be using focal speakers all monitors but haven't decided for sure. I want it to have all the newest formats. 2 hdmi outputs for a secondary tv in another room. Marantz, integra, anthem? Might add multichannel amp in future but not at first. Room 25x16x9. Thx