Good v. Very Good Receivers - can you hear the difference?

[hrow]

I know that there are lots of reasons for choosing one receiver over another other than sound quality so let's keep this at the very simplest level....

With all other factors being equal, does the jump from say a $500 Yamaha RX -V663 to a $1200 Yamaha V1900 actually result in significant improvement in sound quality when listening to CD in a 13 x 17 room at normal listening levels?

The speakers being used are Paradigm Studio 40s in the front and center. A
Paradigm Seismic 12 subwoofer and a pair of big assed Klipsch floor speakers for my rears. (Yes, I know it is kind of a weird combo but it really works out well.) The ears that are listening to this are 57 years old.