For under 2 grand we can hook you up with some preamp processor amp combo, or a bells and whistles receiver.
I paid $800.00 for my prepro/amp combo from Emotive. I'm keeping the amp, and upgrading my prepro in January. Thats the great thing about separates. Easy to upgrade just the piece you want to.
But, with a receiver you get more bells and whistles to play with and screw up (just kidding). Denon, Yamaha, Onkyo, Marantz, Integra, and others make great receivers.
Its your call bigdaddy.