AVR Purchase criteria: Advice please

I am ready to buy a new AVR. After reading many posts, the Onkyo 876 looks to be a great option. However, I had seen it selling for around 1K new and now it's evidently gone up several hundred dollars. Would the 806 be a good alternative given the difference in video processors? I will be using this with a Pioneer Elite Pro 111FD and also plan on buying a Blue Ray player as well. Would either of these units negate the need for the AVR's processor?What I want to know is should I pay the premium for the 876 "Reon" processor and whatever other upgrades the 876 offers? Please note that I am also very concerned with the audio performance of whatever unit I buy. I listen to 2 channel CDs a lot as well as vinyl. FWIW, my speakers are also a new addition for me: Revel Concertas F12, C12, B12, and M12 surrounds. I have also read that NAD has great sounding AVRs, but they seem to lag in the video department and perhaps in the "bells and whistles" department. BTW, I have never used anything like Audessy, but from what I've read this should be a very helpful addition and as such I want this or some equivalent technology if possible. Thanks for any help you can offer this "newbie" to HT.

Thanks for the clarification regarding the advertised prices. I understand. However, I don't quite understand "bandphan's" reply. Either it is a typo or an acronym I don't know. would you please explain this a little more for me. Again, I'm a newbie to HT, but a fairly knowledgeable 2 channel guy. Thanks again!

Well...as usual these decisions are more difficult than they would appear on the surface. It took quite some time before I ended up with the Pro-111FD! I have gotten the impression that for viewing SD content either from cable, satellite, or DVD you needed to "upscale" the image and that that is where the better video processors in your AVR earned their keep. Are you saying that my KURO can do this for me and probably better than the various processors in an AVR? How (if at all) does the video processing from either the display or the AVR affect the HD viewing from various sources?

Several friends have suggested the Pre-Pro option much like you would with "seperates" for 2 channel sound. Maybe that's the way to go. I used a British integrated amp for many years and loved it. It was the poor man's alternative to true seperates. I wouldn't have considered a receiver for my audio interests until I started down this HT path. I will say that I have gotten the impression that AVr's have come a long way in the sound department. I would like to keep the costs under control and the complexity as simple as possible, but I also would like to be able to utilize the full potential of my display and my speakers. The NAD line is familiar to me as far as their audio engineering goes. They have always been a good/great value.

The room I have is essentially 15 1/2' wide and 26' long. The KURO display and LFC speakers are on the long wall with our seating opposite. There is a door entry to our kitchen on this long wall and a 7 1/2' opening into our DRM as well. This family room also has a vaulted ceiling so there is a good deal of cubic feet to cover with sound. Hopefully, the Audessy or some such will help me with the set up for this room.

Whew! AVS Forums to the rescue once again. I almost got mislead into thinking that plasma displays were "out" too! So, from what I'm reading here I can put my money into audio capabilities and as you say let the KURO do the video as it was so well designed to do.

Sorry for the delayed reply, dinner time arrived ! I have owned 2 HK products in the past. Both were landmarks in their day. The 1st was a Dolby B cassette recorder that Nakamichi made for them, the other was a turntable that I found out about through my subscription to The Absolute Sound. Of the 2, the turntable is still in service and would cost quite a bit of $$$ to replace in terms of performance. The point is that I have reason to trust the HK organization even with the changes in ownership. So, I'll definitely check out the HK sugestions! Thanks to everyone for your considerable help. I'll be signing off now, but I'll check for additional posts before I "pull the trigger".

Well now I guess I've opened up a can of worms for sure! I didn't intend to bring the troops to the line. I simply hoped to get some experienced advice to help me make a decision. I guess in fact that's what has happpened, I just hope I haven't started a feud somewhere. The Concertas that I have were an attempt to appease my wife. She hated my Magnapan SMG speakers! These were the original SMG version not the "a" or "b" or "c" models. My speakers are closer to the newer MG 12 in size. BTW, these are not "rock" speakers. They excel in soundstage and midrange like no other speaker in (or anywhere near) their price range. I bought the Concertas without the opportunity of an audition! I do however still have another couple of weeks to decide if I'll keep them. Basically, I ordered them after extensive reading of the various reviews on them. I wanted a full range floor standing speaker and after the reviews I'd read they seemed to be one of the best values out there. I will admit that I certainly considered the PSB series (45,55,65) and even the "Imagine" series. I also cosidered the Monitor Audio Silvers as well as several of the Paradigms. The biggest problem I have is that there is no local or even nearby location that I can audition these speakers. I ultimately got the Concertas from a classifed ad here on the AVS site! They were dealer demos and I thought that the price was reasonable considering. The one thing that I've found missing so far is the soundstage that I had with my Maggies. Otherwise the fact that this is a true 3 way design is noticible. They are very articulate and have a very nice low end too. So, back to an amplifier. I'll certainly look further at the NAD lineup, butI am also concerned about the other offerings out there. So please feel free to weigh in. Again I'd like to stay in the $1-2K ranfge.