After talking to some well informed people, I have decided to go another route with my A/V setup.

It looks like i'm going to be keeping the Polk RTi4's (I may pick up the RTi6's), but replace the Pioneer receiver.

I think I need at least a 7.1 receiver(as they typically allow bi-amping) to bi-amp my Polk RTi4's and future speaker upgrades. I also need to be able to plug my iPod right into the front.

The Yamaha RX-V571 and RX-V671 seem to fit the bill, but they are on the pricier side for my budget.

What other receivers would you suggest for me, keeping the receiver under $400?- I'm not afraid to go refurbished.