Maybe you can be patient and a Linear Tube Audio LTA amplifier might show up on the preowned market at a great price. Its my understanding LTA, which utilizes Berning designed circuits, provides a large helping of the Berning magic.
You are right....
The problem is less money i guess but the way i have recreated my audio system embeddings which is so great that i am in fear to buy anything new and thinking after that " so little for so much money"...I am already in heaven with no after tought about sound...Not perfect at all but so good!...
Acoustic controls is really more powerful than any upgrade of dac or amplifier and sometimes even of some speakers upgrade....
The reason is simple there is LESS difference between relatively good well chosen dacs and amplifiers than the comparative difference between a non treated and acoustically uncontrolled room and a treated and controlled room, nevermind the gear in it, if this gear is already good and well chosen for sure...
This is my surprizing experience after my feverish 2 years experiments in listening...
