I recently got a denon 2805 over similar receivers you listed...

since you are looking at the $1000+ price range, check out the pioneer elite 56, it is very nice,
likewise for the NAD T763,
I was looking at the pioneer elite 54 for $850, and the nad T743 for $700...
all the receivers were very similar, but the denon has 5 optical in's which was my deciding factor...

goodluck,
Mike