Best amp under 1k

You might want to consider the Odyssey Stratos. It is solid state, but has an almost tube-like musical quality, and is very transparent and dyanmic. It currently sells for $995, is built like a battleship and has a 20yr warranty. I would consider it one of the biggest bargains in high-end audio. You can check it out at http://odysseyaudio.com or call Klaus Bunge (317)299-5578. Also, you can check out a review at soundstage.com.

You could use a 2A3 based amp with your 100db speakers or a 300b based amp with either speaker (single ended amps). I have listened to a few models of both and find them to be more 3D than anything that I have experienced before which includes both SS and push/pull tube designs that I have owned as well as auditioned. I ended up picking up a 300b amp which I am just starting to play around with and have no regrets. Our listening practices are similar in that I listen at a level just high enough to bring out full balance and detail of the music (also listen to most types of music). Tube amps require a little more maintenance and expense than SS (but hey it's something to do) and are worth the effort IMO. I also have a solid state Musical Fidelity amp (which I also like) but tubes are and always have been my favorite. Some day I would like to try a tube preamp/SS amp combo for practicality as well as sound which is another option. My integrated (passive preamp) 300b amp was inexpensive and within my budget which is partly why I went this route, plus I have never owned a SET design before. I kind of liked the 2A3 based amps a little more balance wise but could not deal with the low power in my setup. You have a lot of choices but I recommend that try to incorperate tubes into them in order to achieve your stated goal.