I suggest a Linn 5125-- these can be had used now for ~$1100, and are an easy re-sell if you end up not liking it.
I purchased a 5125 new about 7 years ago, and since then many other electronics and speakers have come and gone, and the 5125 is the only piece of gear I have kept. I actually used it as my reference amp in a 2-channel system for a while.
One of its best characteristics is its dead silence-- at low levels the amp seems to reveal details that I do not hear with other amps, and at high levels, the silence during quiet points is very noticeable. Overall it is a very "sweet" sounding amp-- if that makes any sense.
Of course Linn amps use switching power supplies, and are very small and light in comparison to convention amps having huge toroids. Thus the 5125 is very easy to slip into and out of your system. One drawback is that the stupid BFA speaker connector require adapters to use with most speaker cables.
dave
I purchased a 5125 new about 7 years ago, and since then many other electronics and speakers have come and gone, and the 5125 is the only piece of gear I have kept. I actually used it as my reference amp in a 2-channel system for a while.
One of its best characteristics is its dead silence-- at low levels the amp seems to reveal details that I do not hear with other amps, and at high levels, the silence during quiet points is very noticeable. Overall it is a very "sweet" sounding amp-- if that makes any sense.
Of course Linn amps use switching power supplies, and are very small and light in comparison to convention amps having huge toroids. Thus the 5125 is very easy to slip into and out of your system. One drawback is that the stupid BFA speaker connector require adapters to use with most speaker cables.
dave