Home audio & video: AVR Shopping

AVR Shopping

All,

I need some help deciding what to get for my receiver.

I currently have a 50" Phillips 720p Plasma. I like it very much.

I currently have no speakers-running off the on-board speakers...not the HD experience I'm in need of!

I really want the Denon 3808ci. I love that it interfaces with digital media (external HD I was thinking). One could completely digitize their collection and outmode the CD format completely. That's one advantage. Future-proof. $1500 bucks though...

Considering i have a 720p set, the downscaling disadvantage from 1080p to /i doesn't concern me, right?

I was also looking at the Onkyo 805/605 models. They are centainly less expensive. They seem to have the upgraded HD audio format compatabilties... They don't read an external digital media...Also, not networkable like the denon 3808ci or offer the internet radio...

Are there other brands out there that you'd recommend? Harmon Kardon? Sony? Yamaha? You tell me.