Ideas for Pre/Power $9000?

I'm a metal guy as well. I currently have a Lyngdorf TDIA 3400 and had the smaller 2170 a few years ago. Amazing sound quality IMO and the Room correction is a must have for me. Music especially metal sounds much better after room correction. There's a lot going on and its fast. Sounds like a blur comparatively with room perfect off. It's like it just times everything out perfectly when it hits your ears. Something to consider. Can pick up a loaded used one for around 4k. 8kish new. 

It would do wonders in your non treated regular ole family room! :-)

I'll definitely keep some form of room correction in mind. Thank you!

just start looking at Echo website..lots of great deals on many many brands of used gear…..

I'd split your budget in half.

Half for amplification and half for new speakers.

When in Portland stop by Pearl Audio as well. Look at the Pass INT-75 a fantastic integrated with exceptional rhythm and pace as well as great fidelity and slam. You might consider stretching to the INT - 250… which has much more power. But which you choose would be speaker dependent.