After reading about 90% of this post, I wanted to weigh in on the discussion. Although this viewpoint is the minority, I have to agree with Ejlif & Fingerpaws...your not going to make an expensive pr of spkrs sing with an inexpensive amp but you will make a good speaker sound absolutely great with a great amp.
A similar analogy is this: Several years ago, I went to an audio show and heard a beautiful SET amp w/a very good pr of single driver speakers. The sources were a 1985 1st generation technics cd player and a cheap Sony close and play crappy turntable. It sounded amazing.
If it were me, I'd continue to listen to speakers to see what you like. Also, are you looking for tubes or solid state? There are a lot of very good tube int amps coming from China these days that will smoke its solid state competition in the same price range. Also, the class D amps are very good as well.
I see you are also considering a 250 watt amp. How do you know that you need all of that power if you don't even know how big your new listening room will be? Regardless of what anyone else says, it's all about system synergy and Fingerpaws also hit it on the head when he said your room is most important as well.
One more reason that I agree with Ejlif is that you will get much more bang for your buck on used speakers than used amplification. Last year I bought an $1100 pr of Celestion 100's on ebay for $200 and an $850 pr of Linn Helix LS150's for $125, both are amazing monitor speakers. Good luck in your search.
A similar analogy is this: Several years ago, I went to an audio show and heard a beautiful SET amp w/a very good pr of single driver speakers. The sources were a 1985 1st generation technics cd player and a cheap Sony close and play crappy turntable. It sounded amazing.
If it were me, I'd continue to listen to speakers to see what you like. Also, are you looking for tubes or solid state? There are a lot of very good tube int amps coming from China these days that will smoke its solid state competition in the same price range. Also, the class D amps are very good as well.
I see you are also considering a 250 watt amp. How do you know that you need all of that power if you don't even know how big your new listening room will be? Regardless of what anyone else says, it's all about system synergy and Fingerpaws also hit it on the head when he said your room is most important as well.
One more reason that I agree with Ejlif is that you will get much more bang for your buck on used speakers than used amplification. Last year I bought an $1100 pr of Celestion 100's on ebay for $200 and an $850 pr of Linn Helix LS150's for $125, both are amazing monitor speakers. Good luck in your search.