I felt like a little kid at Christmas...
After thumbing through the operating instructions, I decided to try it 6.1. It didn't matter much, as most of my listening was 2.1.
This thing is a beauty to look at.
As far as sound, I had the same impression I had in the store when I auditioned this receiver. To me, I heard a separation in the instruments and a clean sound I didn't hear in the other receivers in this price range, which often sounded muddy or compressed. I did get to hear all the speakers with the PS3 (and the game Motorstorm, the only game I can play with the kids around), and it was exhilarating. I didn't get nearly enough time, as I had to clean up (although, now that I think of it, I could have just disconnected the rears).
I had to take it all down until I get the wire pulled through the wall. I was planning to go under the room (this part of the house is over a crawl space), but I might be better to go over the top. It's a vaulted ceiling, so I would need to order more cable. I'll go up in the attic space tomorrow to see what I'm up against.
It will be fun to play around with the MCACC one of these afternoons and see what it can do with a movie. I told the kids we'd get Speed Racer when it comes out next month. I think that might be a good one!
