Have you tried resetting the receiver? Many complete a "soft" reset by simply unplugging and replugging the power. In the owners manual there should be steps for a "hard" reset where there will be a list of steps to take, press here, hold, unplug, replug, press there.
If he goes LSi's all around, how about just upgrading the receiver, Adcom makes the GFR 700, a $1900 receiver that will man handle a 4 ohm speaker, seperate amps will wind up costing almost that don't you think. I'm in the same boat, I'm looking at the LSi in walls, and I'm jumping between the...
I agree, I would wire for a simple system, eg 16/4 or 14/4 feed to the volume control, run your speakers from there, and wire a combination of cat 5e and a camera wire (rg59 with an 18ga pair) to the volume control from the electronics. This will give you the capability of using a russound...