I had the same quandry some time back... need a good amp but don't want to spend a ton of bucks on one.
I considered several including McC, Para, BAT, and a couple of others some members named for me. Having personally owned BK 220 Ref, Krell KAV250, and a BAT VK500 w/BAT pk. in the past and used a friends Rotel 1080 for a little while too, I leaned towards another BAT going in.
Well, my paitience running short, and feeling 'new' was a real plus, aside from the break in part, I took a leap of faith and bought an Odyssey Stratos SE. it is just as all the online reviews say it is.... very good and a really solid value. It is comparable to the BAT vk500 in some respects, and superior to the Rotel and B&K units overall, bass, and top end refinement, and is simply far more musical than the easily twice the price KAV250 with nearly as great, dynamics. It also works well in either HT or audio only configurations.
I bought mine new, but they are well represented in the 'used' market too. Given the build quality, and had my paitience been greater, I'd have bought a preowned unit with no worries. At the time however, the used Odyssey pieces being offered were listed not much less than a new one so I opted for new insttead and gained some upgrades in the bargain.
Sincerely, the Odyssey is a fine amp and well worth consideration in the $1K +/- range, new. Only the VK500 was a better performer across the board, and then only by degrees in some areas.
