I, too, would go with the inexpenive receiver as a pre/pro, and add a quality outboard multichannel power amp. Yeah the preamp sections of many receivers aren't the best, but I think the power amp portion of most receivers is the limiting factor in a lot of people's setups (barring poorly placed speakers in the room). That way you can mate an outbaord power amp to you speakers, in your room. so when you go to buy a new pre/pro down the road, you don't have to repurchase another power amp stage (a la a new receiver). You just swap pre/pros.
More expensive receiver vs. cheaper one with amp
I recently sold my pro-logic setup so I could utilize digital connections for my components. I do have a Denon 2801 receiver that I have been using with my klipsch speakers. I don't really find this receiver to be that musical, better than my old db940 sony but much less than that of the Onkyo SV-90 that I just sold. I can purschase one of the following-AMC R9 for $360 (100x5), Marantz SR5000 $288 (70x5), NAD 751 $459 (60x5), or an Outlaw 1050 ($499 I missed out on the used one posted today). My budget is really about $360 but I could stretch it to $500 if I had too. My dilema is this-do I spend the money on the NAD or the Outlaw or buy the Marantz or AMC and then buy a used 2 channel amp such as the Adcom 545 II or the Nad 216 thx? The price spent would be about the same in the end. I listen to a lot of music on this system via a Denon 560 changer watch TV and movies via DVD and digital cable. I listen to music more than movies. I currently have b&w bookshelfs and will expand the rest of my speakers in this brand. Thanks in advance for you comments.