McIntosh Sonus Faber love affair, alternatives?

I listened to my Sonus Faber Sonetto VIII speakers with a Mac 252 amp.  Nice sound, but didn't seem to have that indescribable something to spend the money.  When I tried the SFs with a Modwroght 225i I knew I'd found the perfect amp for these speakers.  The Modwright made the speakers sound like a veil had been lifted.  Whole new experience.  And the folks at Modright are a dream to work with.    

I have been quite happy with Klipsch La Scala AL5s paired with a Mac 275.  It went to another level entirely when I added BACCH4Mac.  My dealer, who has been in the business for 50 plus years, says it is tied with the best system he has heard.  The room is highly furnished, but otherwise not sound treated.  

I think that the reason you have been seeing them together recently is the merger and joint advertising. The dealers now sell both brands so it is easy for them to pair together. That said, I organically ended up owning both brands and am very happy but a lot of components work well with both sf and mc 

I had to move on from all things Sonus Faber... Customer service is the absolute worst. They have a US distributor in MN, Fine Sounds, that is a complete clown car of incompetence and jackassery; just my experience. 

Yamaha NS-5000 does more for less.  Just make sure your amp has at least 400 watts into four ohms.