What receiver should I buy?

The problem with cheap AVR’s is that after the processing, the first stage of amplification for the analog signal takes place in its preamp section,

If you look at my initial post, I said get the cheapest AVR that has a full set of pre-outs. This automatically implies that your looking at a mid to top of the line unit in just about everyone’s line up because the real cheap ones don’t have pre-outs.  This would still be cheaper than a pre-pro - unless there are now some good ones that have come down in price.  Back when I was really engaged in HT, a pre-pro was 2-4K and models did not change every year.  So I found it more effective to buy an upper level AVR as cheap as possible when they were closed out every Fall.   

I agree that a superior analog preamp section is where its at for proper musical reproduction. That’s why I am really a 2 channel guy having true stereo components in my system. After a ten year affair with the HT mistress always to be left unsatisfied with music, I went back to stereo and have never been happier. And that was using flagship AVR’s and even HT separates. And it was the pre-amp in every unit that I objected too in addition to the power amp sections in AVR’s. I couldn’t find one that sounded right in either an AVR or a pre-pro. Never found any fault in a good multi-channel power amp though and liked the fact that they never went obsolete.

Perhaps the OP should have posted his question in HT sub forum because when he said receiver in the title of his thread, he really meant AVR.