HELP!!!! Newbie looking for a decent 2 channel power amp in the $1,000 range

I'd suggest some Schiit in your future. You get a better amp than the typical at the same wpc because there's no distributor and retail markup. Just makes sense.

Outlaw Audio’s RR2160 MKII Stereo Receiver. $999. Plenty of power, a decent DAC, and a good phono stage. 110W/channel into 8 Ohms, 165W/channel into 4 Ohms.

I had 2 in running place before my purchase. 

The Outlaw RR2160 and the Yamaha A-S801.Ended up with that Yamaha because of the cheaper price tag, it looked sleek (well so soes the Outlaw) Almost exact power output on each. I've been loving everything about the Yamaha. 

Look into a pro amp, Yamaha, QSC, crown etc, lots power, good sound, reliable.

 Call odyssey, see what Klaus can build you for your budget

parasound, good call, great amp. 
 

keep eyes open on the Gon for a great used amp

also usmart, good stuff there also, be cautious on fleabay, lots Scheisters there. 
 

keep checking the used section here, always good stuff popping up.

or a better suggestion, save another 6mo-1yr, and get a much better amp for 1500-2000$

that’s what I did, I saved scraps for 4 years, ended up with an amazing mono pair. 
 

good luck

I guess by now a Sunfire 300 watt amp should be in your price range. It will drive just about anu load down to 2 ohms. And just for fun it has 2 different sets of speaker outlets, one a direct connect, high damping one like all solid state amps and one a low damping output like tube amps that will produce sound 'tilted' toward tub sound.