"Even though the Hegel seems to be a very good deal at $1600...it is simply more than I planned on spending at this time."
HA HA HA HAAAAAA!!! Dude, you're at ground zero of "more than I planned on spending" here. People should have to sign a waiver about spending more than they want before even being allowed to enter this site.
Inline with that, we're not subtly pushing you toward the Hegel here mainly because it's a significant step up from everything else you're considering, and your speakers are good enough to let you enjoy the benefits of that. Yeah it may be a few hundred dollars or more than some other options you're considering, but you're getting a helluva return on that relatively small incremental cash outlay. Honestly, are the incremental hundreds going to impinge on your life that much?
Anyway, if you're hell bent on resisting our best efforts, of the other options you're considering I'd go with the Outlaw RR2160. It's a relatively refined piece for the price, and it offers a HT bypass, DAC, and phono input -- all of which you'd seem to be able to make use of (the Azur has neither a DAC nor phono input). And it's 800 bucks cheaper than the H160 here. All I can say is you better have something pretty damn awesome to do with that $800 because you're leaving a boatload of audio performance on the table IMHO.
Sorry for being so wishy washy and indirect here, but there it is. Best of luck in whatever you choose.
