Best solid state power amp for $1k

Nighthawk, I think you hit the nail on the head with the speakers. I was focused on the pre and didnt give the speakers enough attention. Good call.

Nighthawk, my basis for recommending an aragon or a mccormack were based on the original posters equipment. He is using a tubed pre. Now what you end up with is a warm mid and a much softer high end with plenty of punch. Also if he decides to sell one of those amps the loss will be less susbstantial.

There was alot of press years ago between the McCormack DNA 1 and the Aragon 4004MK II. Half of the reviewers at stereophile chose the McCormack the other half the Aragon. For your listening preferences of jazz and classical i think McCormack is the right amp. If you were a rocker i would say go with the Aragon. Just my 2 cents.