I've owned a number of amps. The two for under 2K that I'd recommend to anyone are the Audio Research 100.2, for around $1650 used, and the Classe CA-101, around $850 used. They're both robust 100 W/channel solid-state stereo amps with clean, engaging sound. More money does not, I've discovered the hard way, necessarily mean better sound. Classe's 101 is just a much better amp in most ways than their larger and 3-times-more-expensive 301.
And the ARC is almost the best I've ever owned. It bettered my old Classe Delta CA-2200 in many ways, though the Classe amp was a bit more evenly-balanced.
If you see a Forte 4a, that's a fantastic little amp and a steal at anywhere under $650. You could pay multiples more and not equal the sound of a 4a.
One I've not heard but about which sonnets have been written is the Pass Aleph 3. Maybe worth a listen.
happy hunting