Bob: Philosophically, I would prefer that hardware based functions be located where they can do the most (e.g. why put high quality DAC's in CD Players, DVD/BluRay Players, and streaming devices plus the audio processor. Therefore, my preference would be to put as much non-mechanical functionality as possible into the audio processor.

As for the NHT's. My main system was not so much the result of a preference for NHT as it was compromize with my better half. I traded out my beloved DQ-10's for the NHT's plus a wide screen TV. The rest was momentum.