Why not a shoot out? I wonder how some AVR's would handle 4 ohm speakers, like the new JBL L100 Classics in stereo or multi-channel. Now, I do not wonder much, since I likely will never contemplate an AVR. My separates handle stereo and multi-channel without issue. Plus, my passion these days is for multi-channel audio pleasures. BTW, a header I just saw here advertising ARCAM AVR's is tagged "perfecting home cinema and stereo performance" so maybe the shootout can begin with an evaluation of that brand/model stereo performance.