Sorry to hear about your 606 being a lemon. Good thing Visions is standing behind their product (even if Onkyo isn't).
Harman Kardons are known for good sound quality, yes. Marantz is very highly regarded for their AVRs' audio and build qualities. Denon is another brand that some people really like the sound of (though some do not; they seem to be a bit polarizing). Pioneer Elite, Yamaha and Sony also make decent-to-good units with a varying consensus on audio quality. I also like Onkyo AVRs, but can understand you looking elsewhere due to a bad experience.
In comparing the "top 3"... Denon usually offers the most "bells and whistles" for the price. Marantz is probably second, with Harman Kardon in a not-too-distant third.
One of Onkyo's big draws is the number of features crammed into a unit for a fair price. Denon units are built in a similar mold in that sense. Some people value those extra features more than others. There is also a group who claims Onkyo / Denon machines are more prone to problems due to "over-engineering"... not sure if this is true, but it's worth keeping in mind.
If you can find a new Marantz under $1000 with 3 HDMI outs and everything else you need, then that would be a good bet. Otherwise, H-K makes solid, reputable AVRs which are likely a bit simpler than some other brands. Depending on the specific model you choose, any of the other brands I listed are capable of producing a competent AVR, too.
Unfortunately, I have not been closely following this sector of the market for a little while now, so it would be unfair to try to get any more specific than that. Perhaps someone else has had a positive receiver buying experience that could help further narrow your search.
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