Just my two cents,
use a Pioneer Elite VSX82-TXS 7.1 AVR as the centerpiece in my system. I bi-wire and bi-amp my front left and right speakers (B&W DM603 s3), and the rest of the speakers (B&W LCR600 for the center channel and NHT 1.3As for the rear surrounds) all get one channel of amplification each. The receiver is rated at 130 wpc, all channels driven (there's a good review of its power output here:
http://www.audioholics.com/reviews/receivers/pioneer-vsx-82txs/measurements-analysis)...
I run my speakers set at small, but have the crossover point set at 50 Hz instead of the THX recommended 80 Hz. I do have a beast of a subwoofer, an Earthquake SuperNova V-15 which is fed everything below 50 Hz by my AVR's active crossover.
Anyhow, I tend to listen to music in stereo, if that's the way it was recorded, or multichannel if that's the way it was recorded, and I'll say this: this system sounds amazing whether it's in stereo or multi-channel, or whether I'm listening to vinyl or digital music.
With my system going, I can hit amazing volume levels with all the detail, depth, and dynamics. It's crazy fun and often leaves me sitting there, grinning like an idiot. Imaging is amazing. I just picked up a new reprint of Santana Abraxas on vinyl, and its unbelievably good. Or Hugh Masekela's Hope album on 12-inch 45 RPM 180 gram vinyl disks..... Or Pink Floyd's DSotM on multi-channel SACD.... Crazy... Crystal clear.
I have my old Sansui G-4700
https://stereodamage.com/top-5-power-amp-for-axe-fx-tested-and-reviews/ in another room, hooked up to a nice pair of Mirage speakers (I forget the actual model), and it's nice and musical, but it doesn't have near the detail or depth or dynamics that my main system has. It's not even a fair comparison to even attempt to make.
I love my old Sansui. I bought it in September of my senior year in high school, but it was never anything like that Pioneer Elite AVR, even in its wildest dreams.
So, before you go out and get a new receiver, consider new speakers. Look for speakers you can bi-wire and bi-amp (that's almost a fetish for the designers at B&W). I'm sure your Denon should be able to accommodate that. Usually you can configure this stuff through the system's set-up menu.