On order, new receiver

@mi4, Thank you for your response. Have you heard the 3100ES or 5000ES?
I know Anthem is great, I have heard their 720 at my dealer. I was very impressed. They are considered to be very high class snooty shop. I was surprised when I found out that they sold Sony. Both owners and an employee suggested the Sony 3100. Both owners have explained to me that they consider the new ES line to be vastly better than older Sony's and that its better than Anthem that they have always sold. Sony is less money than Anthem 720 so it's not like they are trying to make more money on Sony. In fact they are down selling me. I was ready to buy the Sony 5000 and both owners told me the 3100 is sufficient for the system I am putting together. I have been working with one owner to put together an Atmos system and the other owner told me to save my money and have 5.1. They would make much more money selling me Atmos, but they really want to take care of their customers. If they say Sony ES is better now than Anthem I am inclined to trust them. Tomorrow I am going in to audition everything I plan on buying and I will be able to compare 720 Anthem to 3100 Sony. 

@galleybob 
Bob I can only speak of the Sony TV, sound bar and DVD play. I am just very unhappy how it works together or shall I say how it doesn't work nicely together.  As for the Sony receiver I have no idea.  My dealer does sell Sony, but everything I read about anthem made me go for anthem.  I've had it 2 months and love it. I think my favorite is how easy it is to use and the arc works flawlessly.  I'm not good with all the calibration crap. But the anthem takes all the thinking out of it and does it for you. I really don't know anything on Sony receivers. I will be adding 4 ceiling speakers this summer.  Right now I'm running 5 channels.  Sounds amazing to me.  Supposedly dirac is the best, but expensive and you need to have knowledge to set it up. I'm a plug and play guy. Good luck. Let me know what you get.  I am running my own amps.

@pcc67 I know Anthem sounds great, I have heard it with Paradigm speakers. Yesterday I was able to hear the Sony 3100 ES with a Paradigm Atmos system. I was also great. He claims the Sony ES sound calibration is more advanced than Anthem. The co-owners of the business worked with Sony in designing the ES. I think everyone who hasn’t heard the ES considers it crap. I know when they first suggested Sony that was my reaction. 
I have to decide on 5.1 or 5.1.4. I heard the Atmos setup yesterday and it was really amazing. It was from a Sony disk that was made to highlight the best of Atmos. I wonder though in real use how many movies and shows with Atmos actually take advantage of it. Of course Marvel type action films would but I would be watching very few of these type shows. I’m already set up for 5.1, it would be expensive to add the speakers for Atmos

Galleybob, 
I just read a review in home theater and they said that the Sony did a poor job in room correction.  Also stated that anthem arc, audyssey and dirac are far more superior than sonys room correction.  If you are looking to save money I would look into the anthem mrx520.  You will still get anthems arc. Also this April anthem will be releasing an update to arc and this will let you use mac's os. Speaking with anthem help desk, he stated the arc will have more features and easier use. I have used anthem customer service and it is excellent.  If you have problems they walk you thru everything.  Very friendly people and my favorite is they speak English.  No offense to anyone.  

Mrx 520 is $1400 and you should at least get 10 percent off that. 5 channel amp, 100 watt at 8ohm. Good luck,  let us know what you get.