Onkyo/Integra questions and HT gear availability info for Wa state

Hi.

I've been doing some research on trying to pick an AVR for myself. My initial budget was between $1000-$2000. I'd still like to come under $2000, but to get what I'd like I'm willing to go a bit more then $2000.

I've got a PS3, Xbox 360, DirecTV HD DVR connected to an LCD TV 42" 1080p.
I've got M&K LCR750THX with the matching Surr55T tripoles and SVS sub.
The room is 15 feet long, 12 feet wide and 8 feet high. Totally closed room with carpet and nice curtain covering a window.

I've looked at the Aventage Yamaha, Pioneer Elite new models on their web site. I've looked at Onkyo and the new denons all of this online. Marantz seems like it's denon. Integra is Onkyo. Well I'm not sure what to do now.

I bought an Onkyo 808 that is going back to the store because of some things. I got last night the Integra DTR 70.1. I like it ok except for a couple things that I'd like to ask about. It's the same for Onkyo too so any Onky and Integra owner can chime in.

I want the networking and vtuner which most seem to have.

Ok. My questions about the Integra DTR 70.1 are:

How do you change the channel level individually? I haven't found it in the menu yet.

Why does the audio shut off when I bring up the setup menu? I don't like this.

How can I get the AVR to stay on the same sound setting? I don't want it to change from Dolby Digital to non DD and so forth when watching TV. What I mean is that with my Denon it is set for auto. So if I'm watching DirecTV HD program I get 5.1. When I'm watching non HD it's Prologic 2. I don't hear any clicking noise from the Denon or anything like that. It's totally seamless.

Basically I want Prologic 2 and then Dolby Digital because nothing currently I do is DTS HD or Dolby Tru HD etc. Of course if I watch BR on the ps3 it might be Dolby HD or something, whatever the movie has. I'm not used to all the options in the menu for auto sound or what format is in what sound output etc.

When I was watching DirecTV last night on a non HD I changed the sound to prologic 2 movie. I only got sound from the center channel though., I would think I'd have all 5 speakers with sound, not the same as all channel stereo. Are non HD programs that crappy with sound and they're barely even stereo?

So far what is making me want to return the Integra is the no audio or video when using the setup menu. Not a huge deal, but I sure don't like how it gets rid of the audio entirely.

I don't like to have it change audio on me all the time when watching the same channel or if it did I don't prefer to hear clicking all the time.

I can't find anything to do with changing channel level individually.

I am not 100% sure, but I think my AVR is hot even when I shut it off when I went to bed. Today as soon as I turn it on I hear something on the inside of it. Maybe fans? I never heard the fans last night after I got home with it. I don't see how in the world it could be even warm when it's off.

I love the internet radio vtuner. But how do you add to favorites radio stations?

Ok. now onto other AVRS. What should I or could I be looking at up to $2500?

Also the most important thing about buying is where in the nworld can I go locally in Seattle, WA state? I know of BB is low end, Difinitive Audio is way too high end. Except I did get this integra from them. then there's Magnolia, but I don't like them considering BB bought them and shut them down for the most part except like 2 stores.

I don't know where around here sells this stuff and even what to look for.

Please bare with me as I'm not very good at writing. So I might sound a bit confused or I might say the wrong thing.

I'll start with what I do like so far.
Integra DTR-70.1.

1: The menu looks nicer then I was expecting. Not as many jaggies as the 808. I wonder if this has anything to do with the video chip in the 70.1. I think it's the Reon thingy?

2: I love vTuner very much.

3: When I hit the Display button on the top right of the remote, I like the info it gives on screen and how it gives it, except it's white and that is too hard to see sometimes. Alot of times actually.

4: I love the remote being backlit.

I'm not sure what else I like. There may be something I'm forgetting.

What I don't like.

1: When hitting the Setup button on the remote it brings up the setup menu and totally gets rid of the audio.

2: The unit is very warm even when I turn it off. This is enough right there to get me to return it. I don't want it putting out tons of heat even when its off. Thus when I turn it on I hear something from inside the unit. The fans I think.

3: I don't know how to add to favorites vTuner stations, but I haven't read the whole manual yet.

4: The sound format changes a lot and I hear the unit click. This never happened on my Denon. It was seamless. I'm not sure what's going on, but I'll try to explain clear. Please forgive me if I am not clear.

When watching HD DirecTV the avr outputs DD 5.1 on HD programs. However it switches the sound to something else and I hear the AVR click all the time when not HD. The center speaker is the only speaker putting out sound. What I mean is I don't like all channel stereo for tv. So I tried to set it Prologic 2. However with my Denon prologic 2 is stereo sound from the surround speakers and I seem to be able to get sound from all speakers. On the Integra only the center put sound out. I was watching a non HD signal movie and it seems like the sound was bad. I only heard from the center in prologic 2 movie and some others unless it was all channel stereo. The settings were correct in the setup menu. So I wonder if prologic 2 movie on this AVR is different then prologic 2 on my denon. I always have to manually change sound output to different settings to try and get sound from not only the center.

5: When changing inputs on the remote to say Game for xbox 360 or cbl/sat for DirecTV I always have to hit the receiver button in the remote mode area of the remote. It's like it thinks I'm wanting to control another piece of equipment when I am only changing the input. Very annoying.