AV Receiver good enough for high end audio?

I've owned an avr600 for almost a year now, and I have to say it has some go. It actually is a true 120w/ch over 4/8ohm. 150w for 2ch stereo direct mode. There are test results proving that its a true 120w, but I don't remember where I saw it.

Sound wise though it is pretty damn good for the money. I've compared it directly against a Simaudio moon integrated i3.3, and it sounded pretty much identical to the avr600. Pretty nice considering the i3.3 is $4k for 2ch and the avr600 is 7ch with 5ch bi-amping with a ton of features for $5k. It is a remarkable feat that Arcam has achieved. I even thought the avr600 sounds better than alot of seperates out there. Don't hate me, but I think it sounds better than krell, and rotel seperates. My $.02

I own and use a sunfire ultimate (first edition) in a HT context and with a VAC Avatar Super in pass through mode. This receiver is tremendously powerful and I can believe it would drive multiple difficult speaker loads. As for sound quality for music through the main speakers it does not compare to the VAC and this is consistent with two different sets of speakers.

When I go out of town I often hook the speakers directly to the sunfire so that when my family is watching tv or movies they are not using the tubes up in the VAC. I sometimes forget and will instantly notice the difference if I forget to get the VAC back in the game. I have also tried to listen when my VAC has been out of action, waiting for new tubes, etc. and I don't even bother anymore.

Although this is a narrow sample, it has convinced me that there is a big difference between components designed for 2 channel and for HT applications and the best overall configuration is a good receiver used in tandem with a high quality 2 channel with pass through gear.

Sunfire is great for HT but if you are a serious about 2 channel then I would recommend 2 channel gear.

Of course the VAC will sound "different." It's a tube amp. So often audiophiles categorize different as better. I don't confuse different with better. Different is simply that. I own some fairly hi priced gear, but keep the Sunfire around just to have on hand for it does everything meaning, providing an am-fm tuner, phonostage, and of course 2 channel audio. I actually don't use it in the home theater room.

But in the Sunfire's stead it will do something an ordinary tube amp won't do. It'll drive CLS's, whereas they'll eat most tube amps for lunch. As always the case there's no hard and fast rule in audio. What works for one doesn't work for everyone. It works for me, what works for someone else is their choice. Viva la difference!