grease,
I was able to pick up an HTR-5280 for less than 500 USD,
and I love it. I have the surround channels powering
wall and ceiling speakers in the rest of the house.
Therefore, the HTR-5280 is set to the '5 channel stereo' DSP
from 8AM - 7PM playing CDs and tape. Then in the evening its:
Tuner= 'jazz club' DSP
VCR = '5 channel stereo' DSP
DVD = DD/DTS 'enhanced' DSP
Cable TV= '5 channel stereo'

The 'jazz club' DSP while tuned to a 'light rock/jazz'
FM station sounds extra nice from my old JBL N-38s.

Personally I like Yamaha's DSPs for music and I
dislike most them for vocals. Are you aware, this
model does not have Dolby Pro Logic 2? If you have
a lot of 2 channel material, you may want DPL2. For
me, the 'all channel stereo' DSP, Pre/outs, and the
center channel equalizer were much more important.

Viva Avia,
JRS