Want a new amp but what to get?

At one time I was thinking of getting the STR preamp. I changed my mind when I decided to forego room correction. However, at that time I was thinking to pair the STR preamp with the CODA #8. The web site is not updated yet with the listing for this amp. I recommend searching on Audiogon for Teajay's review and feedback from users.

https://hometheaterreview.com/coda-technologies-continuum-no-8-stereo-amplifier/

Whatever, you get should be complimentary to the needs of your Focal speaker. 

I owned a Benchmark AHB2 amp at one time and was considering buying it back to use with a STR preamp but the speakers I am now likely going to get did not match well with the amp. 

Thanks for the suggestions! Going to do some research on these suggestions.  

You'll get better and more meaningful recommendations if you tell us what aspects of sound reproduction are most important to you and what you're looking to improve upon over your current amp. 

I'm not the best at describing what I'm hearing or not hearing. There is a lot more detail since I changed preamps. I had a Rotel 1572. My youngest boy said right away how much clearer it sounded with the STR. We can hear a lot more detail. I bought the Focal 948's because I listen to a lot of rock. Around here (Toledo) there isn't much variety to choose from. The B&W's in my price range were auditioned with a Macintosh amp and just sounded dead. So I feel the midrange has gotten better after playing with the sub settings in the preamp but just aren't where I would like them. This isn't as noticeable with the master quality (Tidal) or hi-res Qobuz but is still lacking a little. 

Sounds like you may be looking for a little more heft or meat on the bones in the midrange? McCormack amps are known for having expressive mids for a solid state amp, and as an owner of a DNA 0.5 Rev A amp I’d agree with that. Here’s a nice DNA 1 with recent Gold Special revisions that would be a big step up over your Rotel and is priced at half your $5k budget.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9fehd-mccormack-dna-1-smc-gold-special-solid-state

There’s also a very clean Pass Labs XA30.8 available under your price cap that would give you rich and expressive mids and that Class-A smoothness and liquidity. As it’s a pure Class-A amp it will run on the hot side, which might be a concern if you like to leave your amp on all the time or don’t want the heat.

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis9f6j0-pass-labs-pass-labs-xa30-8-power-amplifier-solid-state

Both are excellent amps that will yield significant improvements in the mids and many other areas as well, and your speakers will definitely benefit from and reward you for the additional refinement and capabilities of either of these fine amps. Hope this helps, and best of luck.