Integrated or Receiver?

donvito.  All I am going by is what I read on the Onkyo website manuals. I don't have enough of a technical background of the circuits and design of the units to comment.  I have friends that are Broadcast Engineers and others that have a background in the technical side of electronics, and I bet if they saw the schematic of the units they could explain why.  

2psyop.  Yeah, I just read a great review of the Outlaw in Stereophile.  That will handle four speakers or bi wiring.  Would have to check with the company to be sure that my 6 ohm Mirage could be bi wired with it.  

May be the best way to go.  Save the money and when I can buy it, get it.  Looks like a great receiver and apparently the best thing out there at that price point and under it.  

To the other people that responded in regards to buying used.

I would prefer to buy new at this point.  Buying used at this point in time seems foolish.  While I can get something pretty good for a good price, if I have to start shelling out money for repairs, it quickly becomes a money pit and not worth the initial cost and the repair costs could exceed the cost to buy a brand new unit that is good.  

I already have spent $150 to repair the Denon and $100 to buy it.  That was the original cost of the unit right there.  The same thing could happen when I buy another used unit.  

I was only suggesting you buy used due to the fact that you were considering the possibility of a 'short term' unit until you had the money for something better later. Also at the time no one knew about your desire to run 2 pairs of speakers at the same time. I do understand one's desire to purchase new, and would never try to talk one wishing to do so into purchasing used. If you are willing to consider increasing your budget to that of the Outlaw receiver there are many good choices out there (including the Outlaw). I would keep an eye on online retailers such as Music Direct, Audio Advisor, Crutchfield, and others. They often offer discounts on many fine products.

Be specific when researching your choices regarding the use of 2 speakers pairs. Ask the sales people you deal with about this. I would caution you regarding running 2 pairs of speakers simultaneously at very high volumes. There is a big difference on the demand made on an amplifier between biwiring, biamping, and running 2 pairs of speakers simultaneously.

Truly wishing you the best in your search. 

mesch.  Thanks for the added info.  I don't necessarily have to run two pairs of speakers simultaneously.  I just tried it for a lark with the Dayton amp and it sounded great.  Using the Omnipolar OM 10's with the more detailed sounds of the Conway 3's provided a great soundstage with lots of detailed music.  But I've found that Bi Wiring is every bit as good and has greatly improve the audio quality of my equipment.

I was thinking of buying a cheaper new unit for short term simply because the odds that it would fail would be lower than something comparable that is decades old.  A new $250 Yamaha for example is likely to last a lot longer than one of the older units I've bought.  Would buy me the time to get the money I need for something like the Outlaw.

I suspect the Yamaha A 500 will be a longer lived amp than the Denon PMA520.  Yamaha has always treated me well and I've never had a bad piece of equipment from them.