Have you considered Emotiva? Their RSP-2 preamp is quite a head turner with balanced out, various preamp outputs and lots of other features (including a headphone amp and MM phono, unfortunately). But you can pair that with their $299 UPA-2 amp and still have plenty left for speakers. Or if you want more power, they have a 500W powerhouse for just $799. I don't think you can buy that much power anywhere else for that price.

Another option is Vincent Audio. Their SV-226 integrated has some interesting specs but is a bit pricey for your budget. There's always NAD. They've stopped making poop-colored gear, and the new black gear looks very clean with very impressive specs.

But, if you're willing to spend that much, you should definitely check out PS Audio. Their amps should be a very good fit for the MA speakers, as those speakers can sound bright and etchy. By the way, PS Audio's Trio integrated amp is a 100/200 watt little monster that is stable down to 2 ohms. It also would pair well with the Benchmark's color and style. I just saw that AudioAdvisor has a special on the Trio pre/amp combo for $1294.49. 'Should be right up your alley.