Thank you all for your helpful advice which is further food for thought. Good thing is that this takes away any pressure to trade in the 861v3 in the next month (in the Netherlands the trade up program runs until March 31) for a 861v6.

JerryL, I think that I am not in particular looking for more bass but it needs to be better controled in combination with overall cleaner sound. From that perspective first going with MRC is a good option as this is also most likely not the most expensive option of the options mentioned. Please note that my center is 5200HC and not 5000HC I do not know if that would change your view on the combination with 7000s.

It is my understanding from HH that 861v4 does not have better performance than G68 in a DSP system so both of them would be a good start.

As we live in an apartment my wife might have some issues with the size of the 8000s so these may have to wait for another house so maybe first getting a 7200HC center might be a better route (after first getting MRC).

If anyone is interested in a 861v3 please let me know. In the Dutch trade up program they represent a value of nearly EUR 9,000 (keep on dreaming...) laugh.