8-10k budget suggestions please

You bought a good enough  amp here is where the fun or the frustration  begins. As you build a system with higher end gear you will find things that are not right. Deciding  which piece is the under preforming  one can be the hard part. The cabling  the source the speakers the power into your room. The set up or the music quality.  On a general basis the equipment  in total is a third of your music the room and setup are another third and the final third is the recording. 

@asmithkash I am sure the Krell would be just as good and also the Hegel.

I am a sucker for a class A (J. Curl) designed amp.  The Halo Hint 6 really has a lot to offer.  You can adjust the subwoofer if need be from the front panel. Plenty of inputs and gobs of reserve (Big caps) power.  The dynamics are great because of this. I noticed it went up $900 since I got mine now at $3,900 at Crutchfield.  Parasound makes some nice power amps too! Then just get whatever pre-amp you like....if your speakers are bright you could go to tubes.  I guess it is all personal choice.  Do you live near Chicago? I would audition system for you.

retiredfarmer

you are definitely right about the mix of fun and frustration.  i will build around this amp.  last nigh listening to my speakers with jus the reciever and tv I'm starting to understand what people are saying about bright with the B&W  It will be interesting to see what the krell does to the system!  

alerrico

thank you so much for the offer but I'm all the way down in TX.  Gonna take a trip to Austin and then Houston to go hear some great systems!

I'll let you guys know what the krell sounds like when i get it

+1 @jeffreyw 

OP-

"I think you should give listen to the modern-day B&W diamond series. When auditioning, I compared 802D3 to Paradigm and Kef Reference. The B&Ws were the warmest of all."

Agree. I own the B&W 803 D3s and they sound wonderful to me.

B&W and Krell should sound sublime.

Enjoy!

I have heard the new B&W's are great!