Hey, I haven't heard any Onkyo components in 10 years, so I can't be of too much help. I liked what I heard from Onkyo about 15 years ago well enough, but my interests and needs have changed, and I wouldn't go for their stuff now. . . .
I'm not listening in a home theater set up, and I've had a dedicated listening room for two channel stereo and mono for seven years and I have been seduced by low powered single-ended tube amplifiers . . . I built my system around those!
There are a world of options out there. If you want my personal recommendation, unless you just have to have gobs and gobs of power, I'd recommend The Integrated or the Torii at www.decware.com I'm sold on those products, have been using them for seven years or more and I can't imagine not using them into the future.