Need Amp recommendation

Check out emotiva spend around $900  a lot of amp for the $$.

There is a GAS Son of Ampzilla for sale on US Audiomart. I have been involved in high end audio for over 40 years and started off with a Son of Ampzilla and Maggie SMGa speakers. While I have had some 30-odd amps through the years, I held onto the Son. It has an entertainment factor other amps just seemed to miss. I have used it with other Maggies from SMGa's, MMG's, 1.4's, 1.6's, and 3.6's. It always handled the Maggies very well. 

I had a reference mod performed on it by Mike Bettinger with GAS Audio, formerly GASWorks. I am currently using it on Wilson Audio SabrinaX's and just love it. I have auditioned it against a Gryphon Diablo 120. While the Diablo did have aspects that were better, it wasn't enough at all for me to walk away from the Son. The Son held it's own in that one too and proved again it is a great value.

The nice thing about the Son for sale on US Audiomart is it is in great condition and has a basic mod performed by GASWorks to boot. I should think it would check off all the boxes in your search criteria, especially for the asking price of $750. I do not know the seller, and that being the case, do not represent him.

Good luck.

1500 is a good figure for the right amp (500 was unrealistic for anything of good quality)

much to choose from in the used market at that price level

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisae7hj-classe-audio-ca-101-solid-state << -- a good 'un, but given age you might have it checked out by a tech, still, it should come in under 1500 all in...

Van Alstine.

Thanks all for your great advice and especially your understanding of my need to stay within a budget (realizing this greatly impacts overall system quality). Based on advice here and via PMs, etc., I've narrowed my "choices" down to two amps, that are (a) available; (b) within my price range; (3) able to "do the job". I would greatly appreciate any feedback on these. Don't hold back :-)

1. Parasound A21 (not the A21+ although would love that one)

2. Rotel 1552 MKII - I get that these two are not necessarily in the same ballpark, but the Rotel is less than 1/2 the price, so the rookie question is, "is the A21 twice as good as the Rotel?"

I should ad that my music listening is predominately classic rock. Thanks again for your great, non-judgmental help. Cheers!