Old top-of-the-line A/V Receiver vs. new mid-level

Nice speakers. I can't imagine investing in quality speakers only to be driven by an av receiver??? I know that some quality companies make av receivers but I still don't think they come near separates. IMHO, wait until you can do it right. Keep sony or bose speakers for the box store av receivers. Use quality with quality. Denon receiver is ok for preamp/digital decoding but invest in a good amp.

Jamesw20, Curious, what would you consider as a good multichannel amp to invest in? I have considered the matching cj 5-channel amp, but thought a solid state would better compliment tne cj preamp. There is a 5 channel pass at Echo a local used store.

Sure Pass, mac, bryston, proceed( may be difficult to repair but great performer), etc. I think if you search around this question has been raised many times and the same points are presented. Great speakers need good clean power that recievers just can't deliver as well as dedicated amps. MHO.

Hasaanchop,
A couple of days ago I would have said go with the Denon 5803, even tho it is a avr integrated, it is no slouch for power with its 7x170 watts, and for used price its a good deal. But Jamesw's responce has got me to rethink that a dedicated amp would be better.( and more expensive)
I have noticed with my denon 5900 universal that sacd's sound way better than cd's. In fact cd's sound like crap. I thought this was due to the player, but now wonder if it is an avr shortcoming.

If you are concerned about two channel performance, then get a two channel amplifier. Having owned some of the most highly regarded multi-channel amplifiers, none of them (and I mean none of them that I have tried), could compare to a solid, good 2-channel amplifier. The multi-channel amps that I have purchased include: Theta Dreadnaught II (mediocre at best on 2-channel, lasted 2 weeks, sold it where it also lasted two weeks before being re-sold again for the same reason - lack of performance in 2-channel by a person who was running a Halcro multi-channel amp, which he also was not satisfied with for 2-channel), Conrad Johnson (better than the dreadnaught on 2-channel), Krell @ 300 wpc (I believe it was the KAV 1500 if memory serves correct, 300 wpc 8 ohms all channels driven) okay at 2-channel. Plus a couple of other, lesser multi-channel amps.

I have never found a multi-channel amp that can perform well with 2-channel performance - regardless of price. Just a short warning for those seeking a single amplifier to power all channels while have high performance demands for 2-channel operations.

My recommendation: as good of a two channel amp as you can afford and then a 3-channel amp for the center and surround speakers. But my caveat is that I care much less for surround sound than for 2-channel performance!