Upgrade from Pioneer VSX-1014?

[fredness]

I was just wondering what the next step up is from my receiver. I sold my NAD T761 80wx5 because the Pioneer sounded cleaner (maybe brighter but not to a fault). Where is the next step up under $1000. A higher end Elite, Yamaha, Rotel or Arcam? This is mainly for music but I do have a second room I like to run. Or would it be wiser to just use the 1014 as a preamp?
Thanks.

[fredness]

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pna/product/detail/0,,2076_4153_130866598,00.html

• Advanced Direct Energy MOSFET
Construction
• THX Select
• Auto MCACC with 5-Band EQ
• Component Video Up Conversion
• Equal High Power for All Seven Channels
(110W x 7)
• Built-in DTS*-ES Discrete/DTS 96/24/
NEO:6/Dolby** Digital EX/
Dolby Pro Logic IIx Decoder
• Virtual Surround Back Mode
• Double-Precision 48-bit Motorola DSP
• 5.1-Channel Input
• DVD-Audio/SACD Ready
• 192kHz/24-bit Burr Brown DAC
• Advanced Surround
• 7-Channel Stereo
• Midnight Listening Mode
• 5 Digital Inputs (2 Coaxial, 2 Optical,
1 Front Optical) and 1 Digital Optical
Output
• Component Video Terminal (2 Inputs,
1 Output)
• S-Video Terminal (5 Inputs, 2 Outputs)
• Front A/V Inputs with S-Video Input and
Optical Digital Input
• Large Banana Speaker Terminal
(L/R/C/LS/RS/SBL/SBR)
• New Pre-programmed and Learning LCD
Remote
• Stylish Black Aluminum Panel
• Video Converter Motorola 48-Bit / 180 MIP