Upgrading: What to use with Dynaudio 3.3's?


I auditioned a pair of Dynaudio 3.3's and they sounded fantastic, so I then purchased a pair. Hooked them up to my Adcom GFA5800 and old Marantz preamp and the speakers sounded good. Then hooked them up to my Yamaha home theater receiver (it serves it's purpose) and the Dynaudio's sound worse than the Boston Acoustics AV70's I have attached to the Yamaha daily. The highs from the Boston's were better, the mids were more open and the Boston's just sounded better. A bit disheartened, I've decided I need a new amp and preamp for the Dynaudio's. I'd like to be able to use them for HT and stereo in the future, but I'm thinking a 5-channel amp and processor for the HT and still have excellent sound for stereo isn't in the budget, so I'll do it one step at a time. Perhaps get a good two-channel and a preamp with HT passthrough and add the three channel and processor later? Is this a good approach? I've read the Dynaudio's need lots of power - does anyone have any experience?
I'm thinking of an amp that can be had used for around $1500-$2000 and a preamp that is in the $1500 range.
Two questions in addition to the ones above:
What's the best bang for the buck?
What works well with the Dynaudio's regardless of price?

Thanks!
linesplice
I had an analogous situation. I have Dynaudio Gemini speakers, which aren't quite as nice as the 3.3's. I haven't heard the 3.3's, but here is my experience with the Gemini's:

I first used my speakers with a Harman Kardon PA-5800 amp (80 watts/channel) and a Lexicon CP-3 (I was experimenting with the idea of a music surround set-up), and also with an old NAD 7100 receiver (60 watts/channel). I also tried the Dynaudios with my main home theater set-up, which consists of a Lexicon DC-2 and a Marantz 5 channel amp (170 watts/channel)(I A-B'd the Dynaudios in 2 channel mode with a pair of M&K S-100Bs). I was disappointed with the sound of the Dynaudios with these setups. The bass was muddy and the midrange wasn't "there" (but the tweeters produced excellent highs).

I then got a Musical Fidelity A-300 integrated amp (150/channel). The Dynaudios really came alive. The bass is much tighter and the midrange is lush. The tweeter is the best that I have heard in my limited experience. The sound is musical, yet detailed in a way that is not clinical sounding. (I sound like a hoity-toity reviewer): )

I'm very pleased with the Dynaudios and have given up the upgrade bug. (for now): )

Given the above, I suspect that an upgrade in any of your equipment will produce an improvement in sound. The problem is not with your speakers, IMO. And, the problem is not necessarily with the amount of watts generated by your amp. My 150 watts/channel MF sounds better than my 170/channel Marantz (albeit with different pre-amps). It's the quality of the watts, not the amount, IMO. I haven't heard the Adcom GFA-5800, so I can't say if another amp will make a big difference for you.

In your price range, you should consider a Musical Fidelity amp/pre-amp/integrated amp. JMHO. This is just based on my own experience.

Perhaps the MF sounds good to me with my Dynaudios because it is does not have as much of a "digital character" as my other equipment. As I think it through, you might want to look at tube equipment or tube-sounding equipment like the MF. I'm sure that there are several excellent choices in your price range. Maybe you can use your $3500 budget and get a BAT amp, or another fine tube amp, and live with the Marantz for a while. Good luck!
I'm using Mark Levinson 380s pre., and a Mark Levinson 23.5 Amp. with the ones i have and they make very good music IMO
Audition a BAT 6200 amp. You can but a 2 channel version and get a multichannel version when you do the HT thing. Dynaudio's need high current amps to sing.

Have Fun.