Moving From AVR to Amp

If you are looking for good audio results (ie. 2-channel) as well (though for many that is not very immportant - if that's your case, disregard my recommendation completely), I would go with a decent 2-channel amp and also a 5-channel amp (just using 3 of the 5 channels for now - but having the other two available when going to 7.1/7.2)

I have never heard a multi-channel amp come close to sounding as good as a equal level 2-channel amp when it comes to stereo/2-channel music listening.

I have owned and auditioned some very good multi-channel amps - none of them could compare remotely with comparable 2-channel amps, including:

Krell TAS (better than most multis, but still not good enough - owned)
Theta Dreadnaught (lousy 2-channel performance - owned for 1 month, sold and the buyer sold w/in 2 weeks due to the same bad performance)
Halcro (okay in 2-channel at best - auditioned multiple times)
Krell KAV (mediocre in 2-channel - owned)
Conrad Johnson (okay in 2-channel - owned)
B&K (mediocre in 2-channel - owned)

Auditioned many others, not one has ever come close to performing above average for 2-channel performance. I am demanding for 2-channel, but not very much so for HT, I just don't watch enought TV/Movies. In the end, I have two completely different systems and am perfectly satisfied with a AVR and below average speakers for HT. Maybe its that Hollywood doesn't make any good movies anymore - IMO.

But that's just me and your goals may be different between 2-channel and HT.

Theclam, I think that approach is good. For auditioning amps, working with your local dealer (ie. buying new), I suspect that they would only lend you one at a time, but would probably allow you to bring your speakers in (take a day off of work and do it on a slow day). The way I buy amps and want to determine between 2-3 that I have researched is to buy several of them used at the same time, at decent to good prices. This gives you more time, sell the ones you don't like as much. Yes, this requires more cash upfront, but my experience is that there is less second guessing when you have finally chosen. If you buy them at good prices used, then selling them for the same amount of money is not very hard to do. Worse case, if you buy 3 used, pick your favorite and sell the other 2 you may be out $200-$300, but at least you will be confident in your end decision.

Also, when you are ready, start another post and state where you live. You wouuld be surprised how helpful members are and I wouldn't be surprised if somebody was willing to lend you an amp for a week.

I have owned several pair of Totems (Arro, Hawk, Manni), the are very good speakers. With a decent amp they really can sound great and you do not need to spend a fortune on an amp to make them perform very well. Though I have found that a mediocre amp can really weaken their performance in the HF/treble area and at sound staging (one of their real strengths).

Theclam, I hear you on the lenses (I am a Canon guy - love Fred Miranda site for swapping photo stuff). Amps aren't that bad to ship (like speakers for example). I think both SA and Plinius go well with Totem. But I would check some of the Totem threads for more ideas and what types of performance the different amps will produce.

Personally, I would keep the Onkyo and do as you suggest in the post above. I would even consider a BAT pre (with HT pass through) and a BAT SS amp. I think you may be able to get both together for well under your originally posted budget and suspect you will still be very happy with the results. FYI - I am down to just using a Yamaha AVR for my HT needs and to be honest am fine with it. I had in the past tens of thousands of dollars in HT amps, prepros and speakers. Yeah, its not that good by any means, but I am not that much into movies and I find my current system perfectly satisfying for me. Two channel is where my money goes now.