The Griffin PowerWave is also a nice piece which utilizes digital power but is only rated @ 15 watts per channel by its manufacturer. Granted it can be found for a few dollars less but I think the Advents would be far too much for it. I'm not sure that 30 watts is even enough.
The Creek preamps start @ $300 and are quite good but there goes the budget.
As it happens my first set of speakers were the large Advents. I got them my freshman year in College in 1978. I had an Onkyo 2500 MKII Receiver with them that had about 25 WPC, TT was a Micro-Seiki MB-14. I don't recall anyone ever asking me to turn the stereo up! It was enough for me in college, OK 2 years later I upgraded to Sansui speakers that were more effecient and went to the newer model Onkyo 3000 MKII receiver (at 30 WPC). That system ROCKED!
25 or 30 WPC are plenty for those Advents in a reasonable size room at normal to loud listening levels.
As it happens, I can recall what I did with every piece of audio gear I ever owned with the exception of those Advents. Of course I don't recall a lot that happened from 78-82
