I went through the bow buying process last year. I think there are many different good quality bows out there these days and it comes down to finding one that suits and fits you AND you guessed it, you have to get out and test drive as many as possible.
I like my quest (Rev) bow, as it is high quality but not overly high dollars. I also really liked the bow tech assassin. I never pulled a lot of really high end stuff as it just wasn't in my budget. I focused on finding a forgiving bow, that fit me and I could shoot well (for a beginner).
You can look on here for deals or try your luck on the archery talk forum. Lots of guys on there sell last years model at 1/3 - 1/2 the price.
There are lot of gear junkies on there who are always upgrading.
Good luck in your search.