There is no room for a seperate audio and video system. This system is designed to have seperates for each function, to switch audio sources digitally in the DVDO, to have all sources remain in digital until the Benchmark DAC, and to have all volume control through Placette. A Harmony remote keeps it all simple. I refuse to A/B this system with a high end receiver, for that way lies madness (or sanity depending on one's perspective).