Already quite a bit of good suggestions here! I am giving the +1 especially to @cpdkee and @panzrwagn (are you driving a Hummer??) emphasizing good amplification.
The speakers you are eyeing seem both to be decently sensitive, obviously the Kef more so. Like @krameshmurthy, I also have a PS Audio Sprout 100, which has been driving successfully (to my ears and listening habits at least) even less sensitive speakers with the Totem Rainmakers, and currently the Rega RX3's. I happen to also own the Peachtree Nova 300 you mentioned, which I have been very happy with and can definitely recommend, especially given it’s vast feature set. That one has driven Amphion Argon 2’s and currently Anthony Gallo Reference 3.1 (which btw I have seen sell on eBay used as low as $1200, which is crazy) - but unless Peachtree prices have dropped dramatically, the 300 might eat up too much of your budget.
I personally enjoy watching a few youtube reviewers that went through the exercise of putting together systems for a similar budget as yours or have great advice on how to go about the process, how to allocate your budget and what advice to tune out. These guys might give you some additional ideas:
Steve Guttenberg’s equipment advice:
1.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y3SUdc7J2M&list=PLKlGuF--sgHus5VYQ-pUvEEyFh2-_k1SY&index=4
2.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdb8wLd73Tg
Sean / Zerofidelity Really great thoughts from someone who knows well the current market and this video seems largely geared towards people with exactly your type of budget ($1500-2000) “How to manage your Hi-Fi budget! Advice For Beginner Audiophiles.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87zFhwqWXXI&list=PL3XRie2Nc6cgv--IgpXPjYWLEJJcot8S1&index=13
And not to forget John Darko, addressing beginner audiophiles on what to IGNORE (until later) before getting too caught up in some of the advice that is overshooting the goal as outlined by you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUZhtQheELg
The speakers you are eyeing seem both to be decently sensitive, obviously the Kef more so. Like @krameshmurthy, I also have a PS Audio Sprout 100, which has been driving successfully (to my ears and listening habits at least) even less sensitive speakers with the Totem Rainmakers, and currently the Rega RX3's. I happen to also own the Peachtree Nova 300 you mentioned, which I have been very happy with and can definitely recommend, especially given it’s vast feature set. That one has driven Amphion Argon 2’s and currently Anthony Gallo Reference 3.1 (which btw I have seen sell on eBay used as low as $1200, which is crazy) - but unless Peachtree prices have dropped dramatically, the 300 might eat up too much of your budget.
I personally enjoy watching a few youtube reviewers that went through the exercise of putting together systems for a similar budget as yours or have great advice on how to go about the process, how to allocate your budget and what advice to tune out. These guys might give you some additional ideas:
Steve Guttenberg’s equipment advice:
1.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y3SUdc7J2M&list=PLKlGuF--sgHus5VYQ-pUvEEyFh2-_k1SY&index=4
2.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fdb8wLd73Tg
Sean / Zerofidelity Really great thoughts from someone who knows well the current market and this video seems largely geared towards people with exactly your type of budget ($1500-2000) “How to manage your Hi-Fi budget! Advice For Beginner Audiophiles.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87zFhwqWXXI&list=PL3XRie2Nc6cgv--IgpXPjYWLEJJcot8S1&index=13
And not to forget John Darko, addressing beginner audiophiles on what to IGNORE (until later) before getting too caught up in some of the advice that is overshooting the goal as outlined by you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUZhtQheELg