The extra 7 outputs on the Marantz is brilliant because it easily permits those with a 2 or 3 or 5 channel amp to easily ugrade a 3.1 or a 5.1 system to a 7.1 system which is exacly my status. It permits lots of backwards compatibility. I currently have a 5 channel 1075 Rotel amp and a dated Rotel 1068 prepro. The truth is for most HT setups rarely do you need loads of power for the surrounds. This new Marantz 7007 will permit me to drive my fronts and middle, B&w 805 diamonds and HTM2, with 3 of the 5 rotel channels. The rears and sides can be easily handled by the Marantz, leaving 2 dedicated Rotel channels for zone 2 B&w PM1's, and 3 additional receiver powered channels. More makers should provide this type of flexibility. It permits those wih a nice multi channel amp or amps looking to expand their HT or update their processor to do so while gaining access to an additional zone without buying unnecessary additional equipment or losing use of those amps in their new HT setup. As much as I like Marantz, I would not use the SR7007 to drive the 805's or the HTM2, but I feel perfectly comfortable using it to drive the surrounds, and I suspect it woud have no issues whatsoever perfectly running the pair of PM1's if I choose to go in that direction. Overall, I think someone did their homework when they added the extra outputs. In my case, I likely would not even consider the unit without them because it would render my Rotel 1075 incapable of being part of my new 7.1 setup.