Given you budget, HDMI need, satisfaction with Pioneer receiver in past - I would suggest to "consider" Pioneer Elite SC-25. It can be had, new w/ warranty, from Magnolia (in LA, CA) for about 1k (open box). It is THX Select 2+ certified but everyone believes it is almost same as SC-27, which is THX Ultra 2+ certified. Does 140W x7 (all 7 channels driven at the same time and bench tested), people are driving 4Ohm loads with it, has sophisticated room correction software included (at 1k price range), enough HDMI connections, iPhone/iPod, media gallery/DLNA support etc. etc. It will leave you about $1k to get a good surround set and BD player. Get an Oppo BD-80, not the BDP-83, for $289 Brand NEW, as w/ 50" LCD TV you won't notice difference between picture quality of Oppo 80 and 83. And you will definitely be in 21st century!!
I use a SC-27 with Oppo 83, Pioneer FPJ1 projector and B&W 5.1 set with fronts bi-amped. I did want simplicity a receiver provides (no separates) and 2010 media functionality, with 80% usage for movies / HT. I looked at Integra, Marantz, Rotel 1560, Arcam AVR 600 etc. but nothing came close to the price-performance-feature-power combo (VALUE) for what can be had with SC-25, for about 1k today. It uses ICE Power / class D amps, so heat is not an issue and IMO a good green thing to do as well.
I am in norcal and feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.
Good luck!
I use a SC-27 with Oppo 83, Pioneer FPJ1 projector and B&W 5.1 set with fronts bi-amped. I did want simplicity a receiver provides (no separates) and 2010 media functionality, with 80% usage for movies / HT. I looked at Integra, Marantz, Rotel 1560, Arcam AVR 600 etc. but nothing came close to the price-performance-feature-power combo (VALUE) for what can be had with SC-25, for about 1k today. It uses ICE Power / class D amps, so heat is not an issue and IMO a good green thing to do as well.
I am in norcal and feel free to PM me if you have any specific questions.
Good luck!