What is the best receiver to use with the A90J? Budget up to $2k

Well OP the issue is 2 channel play back for most audiophilers.  Most have one or the other. 2 channel playback can fill most of the HTs world with just very little effort. It's usually the type of subs used, and a center channel. Good stereo will have a wonderful phantom center. 

A small adjustment on the subs and you're HT ready.

There is an option for playthrough too. It lets you use your AV or Stereo and "Play through" the same speakers. TWO separate preamps. One for HT one for stereo.

The third option is to get an older HT with a GOOD 2 channel playback.
Mcintosh, and Krell had a good hybrid. They are OLDER now..

4th Get the best HT you can, I can't recommend one, because I don't know anything about them.

As far as Marantz, I have some 60 year old preamps that still work fine...
I love the look. Thirty Three and the 3300..

Regards

millercarbon posts the same exact message on every single home theater thread, so you can pretty much ignore because he is on a crusade to kill anything "multi-channel". 

That being said, stand-alone 2-channel gear is mostly going to be a step above multi-channel (not to say multi-channel is bad).  However, at your level with speakers that are under $400 a pair, you're budget is not going to be in the "2-channel area".

The Marantz receivers are good in the fact that they are the only AV Receivers that use a discrete analog output stage.  That being said, they are voiced on the warm side and the high frequencies are softened and rolled-off.  If that's what you want, then Marantz is a good choice.

The other direction is likely going to be very close to the sound of your Pioneer.  Many will recommend Anthem AV Receivers.  They are extremely high quality and have excellent sound, but on some systems the highs can have a bright edge.  You can get a new MRX 540 for $1600.   Alternatively, you can get a new/used MRX 720 for under $2k.  The MRX 720 is the previous model and will not have all the newest features (such as Dolby Vision, etc.), but it will have a larger power supply than the 540 and provide better sound.

terrible advice, as virtue signaling always winds up being:

millercarbon posts the same exact message on every single home theater thread, so you can pretty much ignore because he is on a crusade to kill anything "multi-channel".

That being said, stand-alone 2-channel gear is mostly going to be a step above multi-channel (not to say multi-channel is bad). However, at your level with speakers that are under $400 a pair, you’re budget is not going to be in the "2-channel area".

So in other words he agrees, I am right- he just wants to have it both ways, talking out both sides of his mouth: it is a step above, but "not to say the step below is bad". What a freaking joke!

For the record, you know what we call second place? First place LOSER!

So my advice was not what you expected. Of course not! What everyone expects nowadays is the same bland We Are The World palaver. You want to live the fantasy, auxinput will walk you down that aisle. You want reality?

Here’s reality: multichannel sucks. You are on a budget. The LAST thing you need is to be throwing money on something that can NEVER sound good!

Don’t take my word for it. Take your budget, whatever it is, go in some store, any store, listen to what that will buy you in a AVR. Then compare that to what the same money will buy you in a integrated amp. ANY integrated amp.

When you scrape your chin up off the floor, I got more!

Now take your speaker budget. Whatever it is. Divide it out into two speakers, go and listen to them. Any two speakers. Then do the same with the 5.1 or whatever dreck your AVR will get you into. Now if you don’t puke your guts out of realizing how close you came to blundering into multichannel you’re a better man than I, Gunga Din!

My advice is for the real world. We now return you to our regularly scheduled hand-holding validator enablers who will never for a minute have to endure the "step down" they so glibly advise you to buy.

Thanks everyone for the replies, I love to see the passion!

So, I just wanted to be clear I’m only using this for watching film/television. 
Listening to music is not a priority for this particular room. 
How does a 2 channel set up work when the output is like Dolby Atmos?

If I’m understanding correctly, the consensus is to only have 2 speakers for the entire home theatre?

...and that putting the money into quality 2 channel will be better than “surround”?

I’m open to the idea for sure — I just never heard of this before (my current gear is 10 years old and that’s probably the last time I thought about it lol)

Thanks again for all the info I’m learning a lot !

PS I only planned to spend $2k on just the receiver... but I’d be open to spending $3-5k to do 2 channel HT... but I don’t have amps or anything. I’d need to sell my current speakers and start from scratch... which is cool if that’s the better way to go. 

Brands/models aside, what all equipment would I need? (Any additional resources you could offer so I can educate myself more would also be appreciated!)