Hughes123:That's a very good choice - the Arcam A32 amplifier (just discontinued) or the Arcam A28 with the ProAc Studio 110s would be a very nice combonation; full of the warmth you are searching for, yet with unrivalled transparency and 'presence'. A perfect choice for classical with the superb Arcam/ProAc soundstaging too!
Sorry but I disagree. The 28 does'nt sound particularely 'warm'. Its more a sound that lacks incisiveness and good detail yet is smooth in slightly grainy sort of way with a treble that does'nt integrate as well as others, which probably also explains the lack of coherence and timing. It's also not particularely transparent, being almost totally unable to edge out any reasonable depth behind the speakers and that was when used with the companies new top player. I would guess that ProAcs will make the situation worse as they add/detract little on the rythm side yet have a relatively strong treble unit.
Some CA 840 components I had here sounded much 'warmer' ie. had better colour and with it presence on instruments and voices. Treble was far superior as was bass extension, linearity and control. Equally, dynamics where much more pronounced and that was with speakers that are far from universally praised in that particular department. They where not perfect as in they can sound a bit stiffled or mechanical at times though its not something that's always apparent. Yes the Arcam/s may sound a bit more fluent at times but there's a hefty price to pay for that.
At that sort of money consider AVI's ADM9.1. If used with a sub they are superior to anything I've heard at or near the price. Despite what people think and often comment on (many without having even heard them) they have dynamics, fluidity and transparency which you probably won't find at twice the price if not more. Add the said sub and warmth/scale is added too. It would run circles around Arcam.