Hello Virtualexister,
Hope you are well. I currently have an H/K AVR 630, if had $1500 to do it again I would get the new H/K AVR 7300. Can be had for $1677 at Vanns right now, so just $177 bucks over your $1500 play money.
Right now though, I am thinking on adding an Outlaw 755 5 channel 200 watt per channel amp to the H/K AVR 630. Of course this is a lot more expensive combined, but will have more power. Unfortunately combined cost of the H/K AVR 630 and outlaw 755 is $2,120. The Outlaw 755 is currently $1,299 by itself.
Later,
TonyM
