Need a new Receiver for my main system

[ComputerWizKid]

I have a dying RCA STAV-3990 (Rebadged Pioneer VSX-D710/ or VSX-D711 Don't know which. The Year 2001 Model) and it is dying the front panel controls are basically dead and the fluorescent display is starting to go out as well. So I am the market for a New/Refurb receiver after my B-Day (In two months) I will have about $550 to spend on a receiver
My Wants are:
Good sound with my existing system (I know my speakers are probably Crap but it sounds good to me as I an no Audio Geek)

Fronts
1979 Parallax speakers with a 10" Woofer that has been re-foamed and the Cross-Over has been redone also)
Center
Sony Speaker (Probably from a HTIAB) Looking to replace with something better but at a latter date 
Rear Surrounds 
Insignia IS-SP3Way mounted on the wall behind my couch

Atleast 3 HDMI inputs and 1 Output (I really want a receiver that will decode the audio from the HDMI)

I am really out of the loop for receivers and I don't know what to look out for. So I really need help on what to get that is with in my price range
I want something that is equal to the features of my current receiver but with the modern goodies (HDMI Mostly as I don't know what else changed out there)

Thanks for helping a total newb out

 

[Fallen Kell]

Well, the biggest features on receivers that will make the most difference to the system are having at least HDMI v1.3, TrueHD and DTS-MA decoding, and Audyssey MultiEQ. The secret sauce is really in the MultiEQ to be honest. This allows the receiver to run frequency sweeps and pings of your room and automatically perform a lot of complex room correction to allow you to get the most out of the speakers you have in the environment you have them setup.

You can still stand around with a measuring tape and string, as well as with a SPL meter, a laptop, and a CD/DVD with a bunch of pink noise test tones and sweeps recording the results, and finally doing the math yourself. And then you might be able to tweak some of that assuming you have an in-line equalizer and your receiver's distance/phase settings for your speakers.... But it is a lot of work which has been made easy with MultiEQ. Seriously, this is really the best feature that will make a noticeable difference in your system's performance.

 

[s44]

You should ask again closer to the date because the deals might change, but right now I'd say refurb Onkyo 707 from accessories4less for under $500. It has all the features mentioned in the previous post, plus pre-outs so you can add a standalone amp to it later.

 

[alcoholbob]

I'd recommend Yamaha over Onkyo, for whatever reason, they've never implemented a "direct" mode that enables a digital crossover like ever other receiver in the market does...very inconvenient. If you are listening to music basically you have to toggle from direct/pure mode to "stereo mode," and then back if you want surround material.

Onkyo's power supplies have really gone downhill too. The TX-SRx05 series had some seriously beefy amps that well exceeded their specs (the 130W/channel Onkyo 805 was actually tested to pump out 185W/channel at 0.1% THD through 5 channels according to S&V magazine...) None of their current receivers can provide that kind of power anymore...and in multichannel mode they really take a dive.