Good Processor

You may want to rethink your question. There really is nothing wrong with what you are asking, but the examples you give in your post are so far away from each other price wise, it makes any type of recommendation almost impossible. I think the Integra goes for somewhere around $2000 and I know the 861 is about $20000. If you are willing to spend 18k more for better 2 channel sound you'd be nuts to buy a HT processor in the first place. I know the sound of the 861 well because my best friend has one. You can buy a whole system for a lot less than the cost of just 861 that will easily sound better. I think you will get a much better answer if you can give more details as to what you want your system to be.

For good stereo the older pre/pro will certainly win. I have seen older 861s go for much less than new, but you could do a 565 or 568 for about $400-800. In stereo the processor is not being used, so the pre-amp stage means everything.

Bear in mind that, despite its excellent performance. the 861 is a digital-only device without any analog bypass or passthrough.