As for Denon, I think a lot of their success has been due to their video sections. If you take at look at the Secrets DVD Benchmarks (which is a very standardized evaluation of video performance that has become extremely popular and well-regarded online), Denon consistently scores well, particularly with the mid- and high-end units.

One of the best ways to audition speakers is to find a local dealer (there should be several audio/video dealers in Raleigh) who carries the line you are interested in, gather up a few discs that you are familiar with (CD's and/or DVD's), and go to the dealer and ask to spend some time with the speakers you are interested in. They should set you up with a set (at least the mains) hooked up to a system and let you try out your discs. This is an excellent way to audition speakers such as Klipsch, DefTech, B&W, Paradigm (which I use and have been very happy with), Boston Acoustics, ...

Just to keep things confusing, there are also a few well-regarded brands of speaker available only through online stores (direct from the manufacturer, like Outlaw Audio): Axiom , Rocket , and a few others. There's a site ( AudioEnvy ) that can arrange for in-home demos of Rockets and a couple brands of subwoofer, and all of these companies typically offer 30-day return policies (so you can demo the speakers at home; if you choose not to get them, you are only out the cost of shipping).