Well Ken, my AVR-225 (last years model) is having a problem so it's in the shop right now being fixed. Since I will be without a reciever for about 1 or 2 weeks I decided to go to CircuitCity and pick up an AVR-230 for a quick replacement. (I will be returning it when I get my old one back). This reciever even sounded a little better than my AVR-225 and i'm tempted to keep it.
I love this AVR-230. The blue panel is also really cool because when you sit down it looks like a half moon (not as if you should be looking at it while your watching a movie though).
But my personal opinion is for a reciever for someone with a mid-end budget this is the best one I have heard out of everything.