Also a fan of Denon. But for that matter, would not discount any of the other brands (Sony, Yamaha, Pioneer...) based on reviews you see on websites.
The totality reviews on BB's website of the S960H shouldn't give cause for alarm. 4.5 of 5 rating off of 605 total reviews? If you look at the distribution, 445 of those reviews are rated five; you could probably consider the 1's (and possibly 2's) as outliers and completely disregard them. I'm sure Denon's receiver (and the competitors mentioned) would perform just fine.
Also, I echo @elliottbnewcombjr thoughts on the speakers: definitely start auditioning now for a full setup, minimum 5.1. While not electronics, and buying used is a viable proposition - speakers are the more subjective (but arguably the most fun) choice in setting up a new HT system.