Onkyo is doing a lot of things right in capturing good marketshare, but I suggest waiting another month or so for auditioning one item from Denon's "08" series, specifically the AVR 2808, which is reported to have the same functionality as the high-end 3808 and 4308.

SRP for the 2808 (110 W., True HD, HDMI 1.3) is $1199. Tendency is for Denon product to not be discounted as heavily as Onkyo, but there is an upside to that with regard to resale.

You may also want to look into B&K. I don't remember the exact model number, but it was MUCH more refined than the Denons or the Onkyo

There's lots of good receivers in that price range. I'd suggest comparing features very carefully for what's actually most important to you. For a given price, I don't think there is gonna be huge differences in sound quality, although some, like the Onkyo, are more adept at handling lower speaker impedences. Personally, I really like a lot of Onkyo's current products. I think they are on the upswing. Denon is solid, too, of course, and Pioneer Elite offers a lot of bang for the buck. Yamaha is a definite contender, too, as is Sony ES and Sherwood Newcastle. Ain't it great to have a choice?