Integrated Amp Choices

I have a Krell K-300i 4K which I bought as a demo ($5K) paired with Kef R300 speakers along with 2 Rel subs & to my ears the sound is truly "fantastic". I also have the Kef R700's which is the generation before the R11's. The combination of Krell & Kef sounds really sweet. The DAC on the Krell is really good for an integrated amp. You can hook it up directly to a desktop or laptop & being Roon Ready the computer will recognize the Krell on Spotify & 1 click to select it & you are ready to go. Music from the computer sounds really good, similar to CD quality. I think you could enjoy many years of high quality music using the DAC in the Krell. You can also use the Krell in place of the TV speakers by running a hi-def HDMI cable from the Krell to the eArc input on the TV. The broadcast sound is really good & it often sounds like a multitude of channels is being delivered & played from just 2 speakers. I also have a McIntosh MX160 11 channel home theater system & in all honesty the Krell sounds much better for music than the MAC. Finally, over time you can consider adding 1 or 2 Rel subs as you can hook them up via the Hi-level inputs on the subs. This will further enhance the musicality & soundstage of the entire system. Overall, I really like & enjoy the Krell & highly recommend it especially if you can find one in the 5K range where it represents excellent value. 

docmrmike - excellent advice  thanks so much for contributing! 

arcam88 - 👍

You might want to listen to the ARC integrated. Maybe not to buy this pass, but the The sound of that Amp, if you like it may set you in a different direction. I have migrated towards ARC and up their line-up over the last 50 years, until now all my equipment is ARC REF.

I understand your reservations about Class D and I also understand that you were not looking for more suggestions, but only for the observations of those who have listened to the particular pairings the you listed, @hi-amp. But in case you might find it useful and you can find one in your area to audition I am going to throw the Primare I35 out there as something you may consider.

https://primare.net/product/i35-dac-modular-integrated-amplfiier-and-digital-to-analog-converter/

As you can see it has a DAC and you can also add a streamer module. It is also within your budget. I have the I32 and love it. I hope to upgrade sometime. The advantage of these is that they are not at all picky about the speakers they drive, so matching is much less of an issue. Whatever you decide, I hope you are overjoyed with the result.