For movie audio quality i've always believe Yamaha does it slightly better ... until i meet this brand Harmon Kardon, recently
With your budget, you should buy the Harmon Kardon AVR 355 !
All HD audio codecs supported, distintive look, strikingly lighted up in dark and even the remote controller itself lighted with white colour.
I've owned Yamaha, Onkyo, Denon and Marantz AV Receiver before ... but this is another class of its own !
http://www.harmankardon.com/product_detail...355/230&sType=C

Do not under estimate their wattage rating ... its 65W/70W is the true wattage type ... i think equivalent to 110 to 130 wattage
AVR255 around 3k and AVR355 less than 4k