@fast Just remember the Kef’s are really at the best when with an amp with power. Even the little LS50’s need some juice to make them sing.
I had the Ref 3’s which was a love/hate affair until I finally got rid of them but prior I went thru many amps to try and get them to work. Just some were AR, Sim, Octave, Parasound, Modright and Bat. Finally wound up with MC452 which I really liked an almost considered keeping the Kefs but sold them for what I bought them as demo’s for. There are great deals on the MC452 since the MC462 came out which is well within your budget.
I had the Ref 3’s which was a love/hate affair until I finally got rid of them but prior I went thru many amps to try and get them to work. Just some were AR, Sim, Octave, Parasound, Modright and Bat. Finally wound up with MC452 which I really liked an almost considered keeping the Kefs but sold them for what I bought them as demo’s for. There are great deals on the MC452 since the MC462 came out which is well within your budget.