2-channel performance (with fronts set to large to get the BM issues out of the way) is exceptional with the 990. I have tried a Boston Acoustics AVP7 pre/pro (built on the same platform as the 990) and the 990 sounds better on 2-channel material. It has better separation and I can hear each instrument a little more clearly. The AVP7 though, seems to do better with movies. Now I'm stuck as I like each unit for a different aspect.

As far as 2-channel performance, I think you would half to spend easily twice as much to get 5-10% better performance. It does very well with movies also, I just heard things with the AVP7 that had gone unnoticed with the 990 in movies.