AMP for Panasonic XR45


Does one need a special AMP for a digital receiver?

If so do you guys have recommendations for AMP's for a 5.0 HT? Or can i get buy with just a 2 channel amp to run the mains and dont need an AMP for the surrounds or center.

Thanks.
pann660d
The digital Pannys are great when using digital inputs. If you're using digital input then the player is just a transport. At $6-700 you are paying for some nice DACs that you will never run sound thru. Get a dvd noted for quality picture and no chroma bug and add the remaining $3-500 to your speaker budget.
A dumb question from a home theatre dummy: Can this Panasonic be configured to do 3.1 channel? I don't have room for rear speakers (really, I don't) but could do a center and an LFE. I know that most of the HT receivers down-mix to two channels, but what about 3.1? Or am I better off sticking with just two channels?

Also, I know that Dolby has a new thing that I thnink is called Dolby Virtual Speaker, which will simulate the surround experience in a stereo configuration. Is this worthwhile for what I am trying to do?
I have the XR45 and I run it as a 2 channel receiver bi-amping my speakers. From going thru the setup menus I believe it can be configured for a L/C/R with a output to a powered subwoofer speaker set. The rear channels will be folded into the L/R speaker pair.
I paid $340 and I think it's a great bargain. It replaced the well regarded
Rotel 1050 receiver (a former TAS cover story). I'm still using the stock power cord and I've read and been told that it greatly limits the product's performance. I use it in a bedroom system with an Apple G5 connected via Toslink feeding it uncompressed digital music files. The system is setup for background listening and I don't really have a feel for it's absolute performance envelop. All I can really say is that's it's at least as good as the $800 Rotel.