The performance of your system is not going to get much better by kicking the Pioneer out the door and replacing it with separates. The extra wattage available isn't enough to justify the expenditure. With two powered subs and efficient speakers the AVR isn't working very hard at all to provide the power to drive your 7.1 speakers. Remember that the heavy lifting of the low frequency stuff is being done by the subs amps which leaves the Pioneer lots of headroom to drive the other speakers to insane levels. You would be better served buying the Radioshack Sound meter and adjusting your room than going to separates, IMHO.

I have a 26x24 room with nine foot ceilings, and one of the reasons I am assuming that a class a/b amp with an enourmous soundstage, enourmous dynamic range, and width and depth of the frontal sound stage would have cleaner sound.

My room is 30 x 31 x 9, and currently my Denon 3808ci does a good job.

I am sure all the superlative comments also apply to the SC-07. You can adjust the output of the Pioneer to enhance all of the sound stage effects you mentioned. Another 60 watts isn't going to dramatically change that situation. Can you use the wide and high channels on the Pioneer? That may change your stage but you can reposition your mains and change the effect also. Play around with speaker positions and settings on the Pioneer before you jump into the separates boat with both feet.

Thanks for the input. I'm leaning more towards the 7900 amp. Do you think Outlaw will come out with a new amp this year?

Thats a lot of amplifier with some implications in terms of being able to power it. I would think there are few times where that kind of power is needed and even fewer who have two 15 amp circuits available, additionally, the Law of Diminishing Returns may apply. Value just being a mouse click away may not apply with the 7900. But if you got the cash and the circuits - why not, it would be very cool.

Is there a need to come out with a new amp? It would seem that they have the market covered in terms of wattage. 2/3 channel can be covered with monoblocks.

Your speakers are rated at 90 db efficient and up to 200 watts of power handling. At 6 ohms the 7900 is capable of toasting your speakers with more than 300 watts of power. Why would you think you need to go to the 7900 vice a 7700? Seems like overkill to me but if you need it you need it!!

According to Outlaw they use the same speaker system with the 7900 amp.

Literally, more power to ya!! The 7900 is a beast and will power anything you connect to it for years to come. I highly recommend a quality rack to put it in. It weighs as much as two bags of cement.

I've had the 7700 for a year now..Great amp but you need to be in shape to lift it...its a brute. I'm running Snell AII mains with definnitive tech surrounds. I have it paired with a onkyo PR-sr5507 preamp/processor. I was a little worried about heat since I have it in a rather tight enclosure but it has not once had a problem and surprizingly it doesn't get that hot.