If we can draw anything from shows, Carl Marchisotto has demo'd with Joule Electra, Conrad Johnson and ARC at CES, Halcro in Taiwan, Lamm in Indonesia.
At AKFEST, the Viper REf II was demo'd with the affordable Jolida JD1000P.
Brooklyn Audio used deHavilland in Montreal, High-End Palace used ARCs.
At CES in 2007, Carl used the Western Electric 972-A monoblock amps, not really in your price-range though. Actually, not in any normal person's price range.
Carl wrote on PF in response to the the Viper review: "One amplifier we use which is also priced about the same as the loudspeakers and has provided great results is the ASL Hurricane."
I'd say from those that the Jolida JD1000P ($2k) would be in your price range, but possibly a used Hurricane.
Regards,
At AKFEST, the Viper REf II was demo'd with the affordable Jolida JD1000P.
Brooklyn Audio used deHavilland in Montreal, High-End Palace used ARCs.
At CES in 2007, Carl used the Western Electric 972-A monoblock amps, not really in your price-range though. Actually, not in any normal person's price range.
Carl wrote on PF in response to the the Viper review: "One amplifier we use which is also priced about the same as the loudspeakers and has provided great results is the ASL Hurricane."
I'd say from those that the Jolida JD1000P ($2k) would be in your price range, but possibly a used Hurricane.
Regards,