"Krazeeyk":
Nice choice when you say that you are "looking" into getting an Adcom GFP-750 Preamplifier. Nice piece if you ask me. I own one myself, and so far, I haven't been nothing but happy with mine. And if you were born in the 1970's, then that's well and okay too. Because then, more than likely, you are probably going to go digital all the way (don't know to say whether that is good or bad...... but my advice to you is don't write off analog just yet..... I thought exactly the same way like you when I was spending years and thousands of dollars evolving my system.... but now, I wish I would've been into analog years ago..... I'm just getting into analog this year..... so my heads up advice is "don't knock it until you try it"...... it may very well change your mind). I was born into the early 60's and thought the same way you did. But that until I have heard a kick ass analog system at my local high-end audio emporium a few months back. Since then, I've been hooked. So write it off altogether. You'll never know when you'll take that plunge as well. I mainly listen to R&B, Rap and Hip-Hop, and Jazz and Fusion as well. But I listen to classics and oldies too, which explains my sudden interest in analog. My father has got a nice collection of oldies down there at his house, and when and if he should pass away (which I hope that would never happen), I would like to inherit that collection. There is a lot of good music in that collection of his.
But anyway, back to the subject that is at hand here, you want to know that if I were in your position, and if I am putting together a system that is similar to yours (and I believe I do have one like that, save for the speakers and the CD players), what power amplifier would I buy if I had only $1,000.00 to spend on one??? Well, I have my choices as well. And those choices would be:
(01). McCormack Power-Drive DNA-0.5 (Special Edition..... if at all possible)
(02). Bryston 3B
(03). Adcom GFA-5500 (which is a bigger and newer version of my GFA-545 MkII)
I'm sure there are others that exist as well, and if I was able to do so, I would try to audition them with your setup before I make a final decision and either put my plastic onto the counter, or part with some serious green. But the three listed above would be the ones I would start with. Keep in mind that when it comes to cables, I would use a neutral cable like the MITerminator 2 with either the McCormack DNA-0.5, or the Bryston 3B, and I would use a bright sounding cable like Kimber Kable if I were to choose the Adcom GFA-5500 (which is a MOSFET amp, and being that Vanderteens are also warm and smooth sounding creatures, using two warm sounding components together could result in something that I would call too much of a good thing..... and therefore, I am going to need a bright sounding cable, and a bright and open sounding front-end to open things up a little bit)
Anyway, that should help you just a little bit more. Good luck searching for your amp. I think your amp is out there somewhere.
--Charles--
