Sunfire's new "Ultimate Receiver worth 4 grand?

The cost is more? There must be 3 or more EAD Ovations for sale here (note: including mine) that are AMAZING in 2-channel and great in 5 channel. They all go for less than $2000. I'm sure there are plenty of alternatives, too. For your remaining $2000, look for a powermaster 1000, 200w/5channel. There's one for sale right now for $1800. It'll distribute all power to 2 channels when playing CDs, but it'll spread even power to all 5 when watching a movie. These are GREAT components. The guy selling the powermaster 1000 also has an encore proc for sale and is willing to sell BOTH for $3100. You have PLENTY of choices to go separates if you'd like.

Personally if you have the real estate for it, separates give so much more flexibility in the long run that it seems short-sighted to get an all in one, but an all in one can often be configured to use the internal amps for surround and atmos channel duty and external amps for the front 3 channels and end up with a very nice system overall. I'd think about where you want to take this ultimately and buy based on the ultimate end result.

Hopefully after 22 years the OP found a solution.