Separate Amp for AV receiver

I'm looking at my avr-x4300H right now and it gets the job done for movie sound.  !  . Only !! 

Oh nuts you got MC going again.
You'd better buy a Raven before his lid flips.

On another note the only legitimate surround sound is 4.0 or 5.1.
On up is gimmicks to sell crap to dummies.
Most movies and music is not mixed above 5.1.

I’ve had at least ten receivers over the years, and find very modest to minimal gains from ‘upgrading’ or changing receivers themselves (WRT SQ, changing for features understandable). I did however get more noticeable improvements adding an outboard amp - more some than others, dependent both upon the receiver and amp in question. But of course it can’t fix all the AVR’s problems.

I like AVRs with room correction.  I would check out Anthem or NAD, which uses Dirac.  RC can really make a difference with mid priced gear.
  I didn’t pay anywhere near $3K for that Denon—more like a Grand, and that was new

The easiest way to correct a room with an AVR is to remove the AVR from the room. Massive improvement!