Wow, everybody just started pushing 2-channel amps on a guy who does 50% home theater. Wow. Okay, yeah, they have some good points. 2 channel amps are typically much better than 5 channel (bigger power supplies, more output transistors, etc.), but it really depends what he wants.
A slow transition could be to do a 2-channel amp first, but keep in mind that sonic signature could be different and that could kill the HT sound quality (between left - center - right). If you want to do this, you could look at a really nice 2 channel Rotel RB-1590. Or look at a nicer 5 channel. There's a SimAudio Moon Aurora 5 on audiogon for $2740. Or look at other possibilities, ATI, Bryston or even Emotiva.
A slow transition could be to do a 2-channel amp first, but keep in mind that sonic signature could be different and that could kill the HT sound quality (between left - center - right). If you want to do this, you could look at a really nice 2 channel Rotel RB-1590. Or look at a nicer 5 channel. There's a SimAudio Moon Aurora 5 on audiogon for $2740. Or look at other possibilities, ATI, Bryston or even Emotiva.