Opinions on best "a/v reciever" used as "pre/pro"

Am currious to know everyone's oppinion(who's tried different modestly priced receivers) on which receiver has the best "pre-amp" and/or "digital processing" section for both movies and cd music in the "sub-$1k receiver" price point?! While I may use the amps in the receiver to drive the center and rears, I plan on only using the "pre-out's"(must have those) for the mains to go to my little tube amp for my "klipsch" speakers I'm going to use(I think)
So, I basically want to know what receiver has the most "hi-end", clear, open, detailed, and dynamic sound "digital in" from a DVD player for both DD/DTS movies and standard CD's! I don't want any receiver(I think) that retailed for much more than $1k(less used of course). Again, I'll be using another amp for my mains, and need "pre-out's" for the mains at least. I don't care any about trick surround modes, except perhaps Dolby Pro Logic II(preferably).
I am considering Yamaha, Denon, Marantz, Onkyo mainly(those 4). The speakers are probly going to be the "slightly foreward sounding" and agressive Klipsch SB2's driven by a Tube amp. Thanks for the input