I should have mentioned the speakers I use with my Yamaha 995 are Altec Voice of the Theater cabnets. The horns are loaded with Renken Hinze HF drivers. Which are alot more effiecent than the Klipcsh speakers. I have not had a hiss problem even with the Yamaha.
I currently use a Yamaha RV-X995 receiver for movies and music. IMHO the Yamaha is much nicer than the Sony hands down. I spent time listening to some of the Denon receivers and find them better to my ears as well. And a few weeks ago I would agree about the lower end Pioneer to a certain...