I have had good luck with Emotiva. I have their USP-1 pre-amp and XPA-2 stereo amp. For 2 channels to start and then grow to 5 perhaps the XPA-5. I am a mostly classic stereo person - turntable to pre-amp to amp to two speakers, so can't add much on the A/V side.

I also think NAD and PSB are worthy manufacturers for reasonably priced, good performing equipment. They are both now owned by the same parent company. In fact I am currently driving PSB Stratus Gold I speakers with the XPA-2.

If you have the knowledge, Craig's List can also be surprisingly useful.