Want a new receiver. Are Harman Kardons still the most recommended pairing?

Hi,

I bought my Ascend speakers a few years ago and at that time, I also bought a HK AVR-635 (I think, 645?) receiver because everyone and their mother's said they were a match in heaven.

I am thinking about getting a new receiver for a few reasons. One of which is the fact that mine does not support HDMI and I wish it did. Also, some of the new iPod integrations and other features make the new models attractive.

I'd like to spend $700 or less for a unit. I don't want a downgrade from my current unit but with the way technology moves, I doubt that's an issue.

What are some of the best bang for your buck receivers these days? Should I still stick with HK? I like their auto calibrate feature. It works quite well, but I am sure other companies have it too.

Is this a good time to buy? Or are there going to be new product revamps and models introduced soon?

Thanks for any help you can provide!