Consider a Bryston power amp.

An Emotiva XPR-2 at 600w into 2 channels at $1799 or 2 XPR-1s as they are 1000w monoblocks at $1699 each. They aren't going to be in the same class as a McIntosh regarding detail but you imply but they are good sounding amps. Certainly in the same league as Marantz. You want less expensive power and no one does less expensive power like Emotiva.

The cool part is you can do a no risk in-home demo and see if you can live with the reduction in detail. If it works for you, awesome. If it doesn't, ship it back.

I suggest the Vincent SP-331 amplifier, which is a powerhouse (300 watts per channel into 4 ohms) and was named a "product of the year" a while back by The Absolute Sound".

It is a steal at only $1399; better-sound than most amps you can buy for twice the price!

My amplifier, which is one of the best I have ever heard at any price, is the Musical Fidelity M6PRX, but that will set you back $3500. It IS a steal for $3500; really wonderful.

It replaced a Bryston amp that was quite a bit more expensive, and it sounds MUCH better, so even though Bryston makes a good amplifier I would not recommend them as best for the price any more.

If I had to do it all over again, the Vincent made my short list. A quick google into it is worth your time.