Receiver-- good stereo sound quality

HT Receivers are designed for digital sound with music an afterthought. If music is 80%, then get a receiver or integrated amp made for music and then add a separate digital decoder. If you do not care about the new Dolby Digital, DTS, etc (HT only 20%) and can live with the older but still fine Dolby Pro-logic you can pick up an older used decoder pretty cheap. I am more like 95% music and 5% movies. I am very happy listening to movies on 2 channels. You could skip the HT and spend the whole $800 on a musical amp/receiver. If you want to stick with receivers check out NAD, Rotel, Onkyo.

buy a b&k 307 305 or 202 reciever these are the best receivers on the market for home theater use and the best sound you wiil find period for your music in a home theater unit.go check one out good luck

You may want to give the Onkyo Integra DTR-5.1 a listen...

Most people seem to enjoy the 2 ch sound of Maramtz products based on what I have read in HT newsgroups. I guess they are smooth sounding units.