Have you thought about just adding a power amp to the pre outs and using the receiver for a preamp? Look around, you could find some good amps used in your price, perhaps a Parasound A21.
Parasound P5
Parasound P5
Remind me what your main speakers are? Also, what type of sound do you like?
I actually think the Rotel RC-1570 might be better? Thats what i'm currently researching, seems like it has a bit warmer/less analytical sound, a bit cheaper used, and also has bluetooth. Lacks the sub controls of the P5 but I already have a miniDSP that can pick up that slack. Thoughts?
Looks like a nice unit, but it doesn't seem to offer home theater bypass. And, unlike the P5, only offers MM phono input.
Rated power (1% THD + N, 1 kHz) [W] 8 Ω, 2x 80
Rated power (1% THD + N, 1 kHz) [W] 4 Ω, 2x 138
Sensitivity (for maximum power) [V] 1x 0.69
Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighted filter, with respect to 1W) [dB] 89
Dynamics [dB] 108
Attenuation factor (with respect to 4 Ω) 92
75 plus 75 W (at 8 Ω) - as Hegel promises. I managed to get even a bit more, 2 x 80 W at 8 Ω, and each of the terminals independently has a power of 85 W. With a load of 4 Ω it crashes without problems - 149 watts at one driven channel and 2 x 138 watts at two.
The sensitivity is not close to the standard (200 mV), it is much less because 0.69 V, the display on the display will oscillate closer to maximum values, which you just have to get used to.
Hegel can boast of very low noise level; S / N is 89 dB (this is by far the best result in this group and one of the best among integrated amplifiers in general), thanks to which the dynamics are climbing to 108 dB - which is also the test record.
The frequency response (Fig. 1) is exceptionally good with a drop of -0.5 dB at 10 Hz and a good high-tone condition at 100 Hz. The 8 ohms drop is -0.5 dB and for 4 Ω -1 dB. It is also difficult to complain about the spectrum of distortion (Figure 2), none of the harmonics exceeds the safe limit of -90 dB. The strongest is the third at -91 dB, one decibel below the second.(https://audio.com.pl/images/1/0/2/37102-hegel_h80_lab2.jpg) (https://audio.com.pl/images/1/0/2/37102-hegel_h80_lab2.jpg)
The diagram of Fig. 3 is a dot above the "and" of the amplifier's excellent amplitude, over the entire output range (excluding the overdrive area). THD + N remains below 0.1% and plays at least 3W for 8Ω and 6 W for 4 Ω, you can go below 0.01%. Excellently!
(https://audio.com.pl/images/1/0/3/37103-hegel_h80_lab3.jpg) (https://audio.com.pl/images/1/0/3/37103-hegel_h80_lab3.jpg)
HEGEL H80
[Polish] https://audio.com.pl/testy/stereo/wzmacniacze-stereo/2446-hegel-h80
to English with Google
[French] http://blog.son-video.com/2014/03/test-ampli-stereo-dac-hegel-h80/
[English] http://blog.son-video.com/en/2014/03/review-hegel-h80-dac-stereo-amplifier/
You mentioned you lean warm, I think the Hegel will make a great music listening amp with the Spacial. Hope you come back and post after some listening time.
I would not buy the Schiit Vidar yet, a product that I have followed these days. There have been some complaints about the first series and some speaker cables (for capacitance). Presumably they will solve it soon.
My other option was: Icepower 1200AS amp. Class D like you've never
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=153645.0
Only $499 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NuForce STA200 160-watt Stereo Power-Amplifier, GOLMUND Swiss-design!
https://www.amazon.com/NuForce-STA200-160-watt-Power-Amplifier-Swiss-design/dp/B01552AKCU
[IMG Inside amp] Nuforce STA200 vs JOB 225
http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=151000.msg1615240#msg1615240
mtrot, you may not have been able to get the best from your Krell yet, it is a beast, excellent transient response and power, if you got an integrated, you'd be going backward, unless spending 5 figures to get close in the power amp section. You, indeed, just need a preamp. Man, if you can find a used KRC-3 you'd have a killer set up. If not, a 280p may do alright and be in your budget used. Any decent balanced circuit preamp would work, further chlices used, Bryston or Coda.
I am not a fan of Rotel, I personally don't like the sound, and, anyone familiar and honest would tell you preamps was never their strong point. I'd prefer using an Emotiva and saving the money.
Here's a good choice for preamp. https://wyred4sound.com/products/pre-amps/stp-se