Amp/Preamps vs. High end AV Receivers

If you like Onkyo for rest of the capabilities then just get a high powered low cost 5 channel amp that can do 2 ohm stable like ATI AT525NC. Small form factor , no heat, excellent measurements. You can spring for newer hypex models but they will be more expensive than ATI. 

For a great deal contact @apexstereo .

You can continue to upgrade AV when you see fit and the amp will keep your speakers adequately powered. Frees up your choice of AV in the future.

I can't afford really high-end expensive gear but that being said I have my "analog" system which consists of Emotiva separates which cost about the same as my Denon w/atmos and neural x for home theatre. About the only difference my aging ears can tell is that Emotiva separates seem to have better low end or more precisely go lower.

I've not found that inexpensive speakers mean that there isn't a benefit from better electronics. They seem to benefit quite a lot.
Regardless of what is being played- HT, music videos or 2 channel, my prior comments apply regardless. In a nutshell, **all** single-box audio systems are compromised in order to get everything in one box. The more the separate aspects of a HT system are broken out to separate components, the more **potential** exists for vast improvement.

Back in 1999, Stereophile, at a Stereophile Show in NYC, set up two Home Theater rooms side by side. The two rooms were identical (being in a hotel) and the video equipment was identical as well. One used a regular home theater receiver/processor, the other used separates. A poll that they took showed that 90% of people visiting both rooms thought that the room with the high end audio system had a better picture!

@jdub071 What speakers do you have? Your experience depends on the speakers. The op here has speakers that are quite a value for money and need good amount power to get them singing.

These days one can get excellent 2 or 3 channel amp with great measurements, one must consider their speaker before getting an amp however.

I have B&W 600 S3, 602 S2, 605 S2 and LCR6 S2's that I bought new about 17 years ago. These I run in my bedroom with a Denon AVR-X2400H receiver w/55 inch 4K Samsung TV. For my audio I have emotiva Bas-x 150 amp w/pt-100 preamp with either ELAC B6's or B&W 685 S2's w/polk 10 inch subwoofer. Terrencej said he was not looking at a huge budget so I guess all that is in the eye of the beholder or rather ears.