Amp for Focal Electra 1008Be

Yes Jack- Transparent cabling is outstanding!
The company offers a very generous upgrade program so you are never "stuck" w/ any certain model.

@jafant:  thanks :) 
@all: Auditioned Hegel H160 and Plinius Hautonga today on a pair of technics floorstanders (new ones after its rebirth)
Hautonga by Plinius - Warm sound but relaxed with a decent sound stage
Hegel H160- just Gorgeous enough to make me smitten! slightly warm but open sound stage. Amazing highs (heard Adele's vocals for both and loved Hegel a bit more)
However the dealer did say YBA's are just fantastic (he just came back from the munich hifi meet) but again I dont have YBA's to audition :'( 

I heard the Focal 1008Be paired with a Rogue Chronus Magnum at Stereotypes AV here in Portland - I'd spent a wonderful afternoon auditioning ARC Ref75 SE and Devialet D200 with Sopra No2's and Utopia Scala's and happened to spot this setup in their downstairs room.  I was more than impressed.  After hours listening to a high end system this rig blew me away, managing to capture 90% of the big system.  Tone, dynamics, PRAT, and sheer musicality. Suffice to say, it's on the shopping list for my second system.  Analysis Plus Oval Nine cables.  It's one of very few systems I'd recommend without an audition - it's that good.   The source was SimAudio's loweest level DAC and MIND.

The Focal speakers are going to be very fast and very bright/cold sounding.  Not knowing all 3 of your options, I would tend to lean towards the warmth of the Marantz.  I see you and one other love the Hegel.  I would also consider a McIntosh integrated as you really need something to slow down the sound so that it plays well with the Focal (unless you really like that very fast/bright/crisp sound -- I have found over time that it is too much).  The McIntosh will fill out the midrange body and midbass -- which is critical on your bookshelves where you will have no low end.  It will also soften the high frequencies that can be so out of control with the Focals.  My opinion on the Pass Labs is that it's going to be too strong and too "solid state" for the Focal speakers.

@auxinput: I was thinking of going with Marantz PM11S3 but then couldnt find it for demo. but your suggestions are spot on and very logically reasoned for something as bright as Focals :) thank you so much sir for that. But sadly I am reading your response after the hunt just ended.

Took my speakers for Hegel demo today. Connected them with H160 using Audioquest Go Four speaker cables. Sound was gorgeous and just slightly warm to neutral. Was tired hunting and demoing just paid up after an hour worth of demo :) will get it next week.  the next dilemma is the cables.

Connected Audioquest Go4- open sound not muffled and just plainly beautiful

Connected Transparent Audio Super Music- slightly muffled sound. Not as open and transparent as Audioquest.

Any suggestions on cables friend? 

Also for the CD player I was thinking to go Oppo BDP105. Any comments or suggestions on that ? 

Again I would like to thank all of you for helping me through this journey of Amp-hunting :) I wouldnt have minded going for YBA but I guess they are just not present around in this area. But one of the reviewers I had read did mention Hegel is quite creamy and warmer like the YBAs.

Next stop - Speaker Cable hunting and CD player ;) thanks in advance for pitching in with the suggestions friends. 

Note: Hegel did produce gorgeous punchy and tight bass. not too much not too less..just about right...