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Barry:
For $7K consider the following:
AV Controllers:
Anthem AVM-20
Krell Showcase
Parasound Halo C2
Sunfire Theater Grand III
Rotel 1098
Theta Casanova
Amplifiers:
Adcom GFA 7807
Anthem MCA-50
Aragon 2007
B&K Ref 200.7
Bryston 9B-SST (used)
Classe CAV-180
Cary Audio Cinema 5
Krell Showcase 7
McCormack DNA-HT5
Parasound HCA-2205AT
Rotel 1095
There are undoubtably more choices that would be excellent performers and I'm sure others will chime in and add to the list. I have also assumed a few things in compiling this list. First, I assumed you could get a 20% discount through careful shopping. Second, when I recommended a 5 channel amplifier I am assuming you would buy a cheap lower power amp (a used Bryston 3B comes to mind) for a few hundred bucks to run the rear channels. Third, I've recommended amps that have a power of roughly 200 watts per channel at 8 ohms.
There isn't a bad unit in this bunch. Any of these controllers matched with these amps will give you many happy hours of music and theater enjoyment. The most important part of this decision is that you audition as many of these components as possible. A $7K investment isn't trivial so it's important to audition the controller/amp combination before you take the plunge. Don't buy something solely based on reviews or recommendation. Remember, if it sounds great to you, it is great.
Good Luck
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