There are also some affordable, but high quality hybrid 150 watt per channel basic amps from Unison Research, the DM, that sound spectacular and there is a matching preamp, the Pre, to go with the set. It has a very nice built-in pnono stage for both mm & mc cartridges. If you can find a Unison dealer near you they would be worth a listen for sure. They are the Unison Unico on stereoids. It is 150 watts per channel or can be bridged into a 500 watt monoblock. They can be run bal or unbal. I am sure Holiday music at your house is pretty spectacular. www.unisonresearch.com