Budget amp recommendation needed

Are you sure about the 78 dB efficiency figure? You would need LOTS of muscle if that's correct. You might get lucky and find a McCormack DNA 1 at the high end of your budget. OTOH, if its actually 87 dB, then a used DNA 0.5 which to my ears is a better-sounding amp, would probably will the bill @ 100 WPC.

78 dB has to be wrong. Also, are you talking about a power amp, which has been suggested above, or an integrated amp? If the latter, two come to mind, Rega Mira 3, and Portal Panache (if you don't mind the lack of a remote).

I like McCormack and B&K amps, lots of muscle and fine sound.

CJ MF200 here for cheap. Owned 1 puts out 250w a side.
Liked it better than Odyssey.

At your stated price range, I think it is very difficult to do better than a Musical Fidelity A300 integrated amp. Run $7-800 used, put out 150wpc. Have mm/mc phono input and remote. Don't need $$ for interconnects between pre/pwr.

I personally like the sound of MF A series (made in England).

You don't mention the specific speakers or your source, but this is my $.02.

Regards,
Paul