I loved the music of my HTS. The problem was that I was also using at for my home theater. The HTS only had Pro Logic (2 audio inputs) that create an early version of surround sound. The 7.1 has the ability to seperate each speaker. It has inputs for Front Right Front Center Frint Right Side Left Side Right Rear Left Rear Right and Sub. It does not have the most up to date processing or HDMI. It is a great unit without the most up to date computer processing program. The best back door bargain going is to buy a great preamp without the most current processing at a huge discount and hook it up via analog inputs to a CD / DVD unit with the most up to date processing. EX: The Oppo 90 is a great multi media unit with the most up to date processing with a great DA converter. Let the Oppo do the DA conversion / surround processing and hook it into the great sounding pre-amplifier with outdated processing that you purchased at a crazy cheap price, because it did not have the most recent surround processing, not because it did not sound great.
That is my 2 cents. I am happy to hear anyone else's opinion.
Greg