Cool thread. I used to run Yamaha brand "flagship" AVRs over the past 20 years, but both versions developed some sort of channel "drop out" over time. I also didn't care for the surround sound of the Yamaha's, which they refer to as "presence speakers" (more accurately, it's "Ambient Noise"). So, I said goodbye to all Yamaha brand AVRs and never looked back.
This past Summer, I purchased the "flagship" Pioneer Elite, SC-09TX (10.2 channel AVR) which has an MSRP of $7K. It uses the awesome "ICE" amp system, and does everything except dispense toilet paper. There is a blog/forum site dedicated specifically to the Pioneer Elite SC-09TX (aka "Susano") on
AVS Forum. It's flawless in its audio/video reproduction, and its build quality is a work of art. Pricey yes, but I'm confident it will be the last AVR I will ever need or buy. One look at the AVR "flagship" Pioneer Elite, SC-09TX at
www.PioneerElectronics.com will blow your mind to its capabilities.
My next HT purchases will most likely be the EPSON #8500U Front Projector (1080p) displayed on a Da-Lite 160" screen and a Sony-ES 400-disc Blu-Ray changer with BD/DVD/CD all-format playback capabilty. Gotta' buy the best today, because it will be obsolete tomorrow.
Martin-Logan brand speakers would be my choice for speaker upgrades.