home theater processor suggestions?

Besides the xlr connection what will i be gaining?
what exactly does the xlr provide over rca connections?

The balanced/XLR connection is great at noise rejection. If you are doing longer runs, balanced connections are the way to go. If you have very short runs from your processor to the amp, then you will be just fine with RCA (unbalanced) runs. Picking up noise on the cables depends on a number of factors including where you live.

From all the posts, it sounds like you're planning a big upgrade to your system.

My pre to my amp is 8 foot rca, shelded. my biggest upgrade was the p5 amp that i got used at an amazing low price. what set off all of the upgrading was the purchase of the b&w 804"s" and htm4"s". now i was thinking about the processor but so far i am not all that impressed with what is out there.

is 8 foot shelded rca bested by xlr?

8' is a short connection and there should be no advantage for XLR.

Here's Kr4's review of the Marantz AV7005 in Stereophile and here's Mike Fremer's review for Home Theater.