SS amp/preamp suggestions for Avalon Arcus?

Try the Muse Model 160 amp and the Model 3 preamp. There
is definitely a great synergy between the Avalon's and the
Muse. Please refer to Muse's website @ www.museelectronics.com. By the way if you want more power
I am selling my model 175 monoblocks for close to what the
160 retails for. You should be able to get the 160 and the
model 3 for your budget. Regards and take care.

Sounds to me like Spectral DMA-90 and DMC-12 would make you happy. You will need MIT cables too.
Good luck :-)

I have Avalon Eclipse speakers and have used the following amps over the last 6 years in order of preference:

- Spectral DMA150 II
- Plinius SA100 III
- Adcom 545
- Rowland 3 Monos
- Music Reference RM9 II
- Muse 160 II
- Electrocompaniet ECI-1 integrated

Preamps used:
- Spectral DMC20 II
- CAT SL1 Signature III
- Superphon CD-MAXX

Solid state is definitely the way to go with Avalons. The folks from Avalon admitted as much. Adcom impressed me in terms of bang for the buck. Try the 750/5802 combo and you just might be surprised. Spectral was clearly the best overall. You might be able to get a DMA80/DMC12 in your price range. The Spectral stuff sounds real nice with the Avalons although you do need to use MIT cables. You don't need the real high end stuff, though. Old, entry level MIT cables do just fine. Sim, Pass and Ayre are probably worth trying as well although I have not heard them in my system. Good luck.

thanks for the replies. i will consider all of these suggestions carefully, although the spectral stuff seems relatively uncommon on the used market (probably a good sign for spectral).

has anyone tried or considered BAT's SS stuff, e.g. the vk200, with avalons?