Thanks Robert, great advice.

I am leaning toward separates, and you must've read my mind, because I was wondering if there was an advantage of going monoblock versus the 7-channel. I am going to post that in a new thread.
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Current System (Why I need to upgrade):
Sony CFD-S28 (it's a boombox)
RCA ColorTrak 2000 (27" of lo-def bliss)