tx-nr609 dead after new firmware upgrade

I guess I now know how it feels to have a four hundred dollar piece of equipment literally go up in smoke. I had been very satisfied with this receiver up to this point. I purchased from Amazon October 2012. Tonight, I decided to update to the latest firmware via the net. The firmware update proceeded with no drama. All 3 stages of the writing phase completed as intended and the process completed with "complete" on the display. I proceeded to turn off the receiver and turn it back on with the power button on the receiver. When the receiver powered back on, I heard a loud pop. The receiver turned off automatically. I turned the receiver back on and saw something to the effect of "speaker connection" or similar on the display of the receiver followed by another loud pop and then smoke. At this point, I realized something was very wrong. Mind you, the receiver was working properly immediately preceeding the firmware update. I always get worried about updating firmware on hardware.
Regardless, the receiver is now dead. I try to power the receiver on and the display shows text for several seconds before automatically powering off. It is very frustrating to have to spend time and money to: one, try to get this receiver serviced or two, replace the receiver. This is my third Onkyo and I have never had an issue like this. It appears from reading the forums and reviews on Amazon that I am not the only individual having these sorts of issues with a newer Onkyo receiver.

Come on Onkyo, let's make them like you used to...

Sincerely,
Brian

Please send the following information to the email address (onkyoadmin@us.onkyo.com) and to the attention of FORUM MODERATOR. Please include the following information:

- NAME:
-FORUM USERNAME/ HANDLE:
- ADDRESS:
- CITY/STATE:
- ZIP CODE:
- EMAIL:
- SERIAL NUMBER OF RECEIVER:
- MODEL NUMBER OF RECEIVER:
- DEALER OF PURCHASE:
- DATE OF PURCHASE:

I will have this reviewed by the appropriate representatives and reply promptly.

Cordially;

Forum Moderator