I know, it has only twelve channels. But, you don't need amps because it comes with eleven internal amps included onboard. The #12 channel is the sub, which has its own internal amp.
Back in the days receivers had two internal power amps. We come a long way.
Between Audyssey (Marantz) and Dirac Live (Emotiva) is the whipped cream flavor of your choice. The pros select Dirac, without a doubt.
For easy setups the home theater surround sound audio people select YPAO (Yamaha), or Audyssey (Denon/Marantz).
Did you see the number of speaker binding posts behind that thing! ...22 of them. ...And all the RCA jacks! ...59 of them. That's why HDMI is simplifying everything by using only one single cable to carry everything multichannel audio and video together. By comparison the Emotiva RMC-1 pre/pro looks nude, completely naked.
It is not the amount of external jacks, it is the amount of internal processing DSP/GUI power for both audio and video crunching digital numbers. ...Only one simple cable...HDMI, that is all. And it should not have any HDMI handshake issue with other HDMI components because they are working all together now, in tandem, in total harmony, just like when we were kids and spinning The Beatles albums on our turntables...in the 60s.