I suggest Alesis for bulletproof stereo amplification on the cheap. Simple stuff, overload protected. You get no switching, though, so you'll need a preamp. I use an RA150 for my studio and it is perfect. (They're designed to be monitor amps, so don't do anything other than amplify cleanly.) You might go with a RA250 for a little extra muscle for your load. You could also get a pair of NHT A-1s, which are also fantastic "all they do is amplify stuff."
You'll need a preamp, though, but there's plenty of room in your budget for one.
FWIW, our theatre systems are 7.1 Yamaha integrated rigs with remote soundfield analysis and correction systems. Very happy with these, even if we do run one of them in stereo only. It's got a digital path so it's not as clean as the units above, but it really does some magic to correct room and speaker quirks.
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You'll need a preamp, though, but there's plenty of room in your budget for one.
FWIW, our theatre systems are 7.1 Yamaha integrated rigs with remote soundfield analysis and correction systems. Very happy with these, even if we do run one of them in stereo only. It's got a digital path so it's not as clean as the units above, but it really does some magic to correct room and speaker quirks.