Looking for amp $1000 or under

A used McCormack should fit the bill.
And, you can have it upgraded by SMcAudio, if you like it.
I might also consider a used Adcom 555. They were built like tanks and the sound wasn't bad at all.

Bob

Your HCA-2 can be a very nice amp with a very few mods. It has its flaws in stock form but after mod is a totally different amp.  I own a HCA-2 with full blown Reference Audio Mods from back in the day and love it.  I also owned a McCormack DNA-1 with rev-A mods about 10 years ago. If I had to pick one it may be HCA-2. All that needs to be done is change signal caps, power supply caps and rewire with Duelund wire or any nice silver solid core wire and new binding post, get that Monster cable out of there. If you can't solder pay someone it's an easy job. You can pick up another HCA-2 for 4 or $500, mod it and the one you own for under $500 and then by amp. I'm running HCA-2 with Bruce Moore Preamp with Joseph Audio speakers in a second system and listen to it more than my main system, it's that good. Don't underestimate your amp.

Are you leaving amp on 24/7 if not it sounds like crap. I've never seen an amp take so long to come around after sitting up like HCA-2. McCormack and other a/b amps took 1 to 2 days to warm up. HCA-2 can take 4 to five which I've never seen an amp take that long. If you don't have a good power conditioner it sounds bad. I use a passive conditioner.