What amplifiers should I consider ?

I would suggest a Musical Design amp,,,I think there is a used D-150 and D-140 for sale,,,,I have had these amps thru speakers similar to the Hales, and they match up very well...

Aragon 8008 is a great amp. You can get a mint condition 8008BB for under $1500.

Ritteri

Agree 8008 is very good, especially when you consider the value. Just a combo I believe would be in the ear bleed category due to the tweeter in the Hales. JMHO

Audiogoon is absolutely correct. The Hales are a difficult load, so tubes are probably out the window, particularly in your price range.

I used to own a pair of Hales Concept 2s (predecessor to the Transcendence line) and had GREAT success driving them with a Classe DR-9. You can find these used on AudiogoN for about $1,200. As an upgrade path, you could later pick up another one and bridge them. In stereo, it's 100 wpc, but like the Ayre also mentioned here, it's super high-current. In mono form, these amps deliver 400 wpc and the power doubles as the impedence halves. The DR-9 was famously paired with Apogee Divas back in the day. Most consider the DR-9 and DR-3VHC to be the very finest amplifiers Classe ever produced.

Best of all, the sound is very smooth. The phrase "iron fist in a silk glove" pretty well sums it up.

Thanks for all the responses. Right now, I am still doing research, and don't expect to buy an amplifier until perhaps November. I know what I WANT to get (a YBA 2), but will probably need to reduce my expectations (or wait until tax time). I am leaning towards the Marsh A400s Power Amp, it seems to be a pretty well respected unit, and I like what I've heard of it (although it was NOT with Hales Revelation 3 speakers). The Marsh amp is just inside my proposed budget (Max $2000 US), but I will listen to the PS Audio HCA-2 and the Proceed HPA-2 amplifiers before I make any firm decision.