Best Amp/Pre-amp Combo for 1500

For the amount of money you specify, your best bet might be a top quality integrated amp, such as the Bryston B-60, the Creek 5350SE, or the Musical Fidelity (sold by Audio Advisor).

I've always been curious about Musical Fidelity. Audio Advisor has that 30 day return policy, too.

Best combo for $1500 could be secondhand McCormack DNA-1 or DNA-.5 amps and the TLC-1 or get lucky ALD-1 pre. Nondeluxe DNA-1's are going for $800 somehow, and saw a deluxe .5 for right around there recently. That leaves $700 to find a McCormack pre. Good luck.

Spectral DMC-10 and DMA-50 for around $1500. Very high
end and very high resolution. Beats any combo mentioned
above plus Spectral service is first rate.

I agree with the above...in that range, check out the integrateds. Popular opinions have seemed to change over the last few years. Many people are now saying that integrateds can be better than seperates. Apparently, the shorter signal path is now more important than the isolation. Most high-end companies are making excellent integrated amps, and for $1500, you should be able to buy a great one (especially on the used market).