Desire to try tubes

I have a solid state rig and a tube rig. As Tim Paravicini has correctly said, you can achieve anything with either approach. With enough engineering and at a cost that may be a wee bit high for many. To the OP, a warning: tubes are a hole that one can fall far down into. To some, like me, it has been fun. But, to keep expenses down, I have fallen back to one tube rig (and another for the headphones). Tubes can eat your wallet, unless you educate yourself. If that idea intrigues you, jump in. Otherwise, toes only in the kiddie pool. A Decware amp is a decent place to start, although it is an odd beast: input tube, critical; power tubes, not so much at all, rectifier tube, big differences. This is not typical of tube amps. Have fun whatever you decide. And if it isn't fun, stop.

+1 russbutton

don sachs linestage is indeed an excellent piece - really shows what good 6sn7 tube implementation can achieve with exquisite attention to parts quality and workmanship - stunningly good sound

You could find a near-mint McIntosh MC275 in that price range and you could also have some real fun with tube rolling; would match your Klipsch speakers beautifully (and many other relatively high efficiency - I have Mac with NOS tubes with Tannoy Gold Reference speakers = delicious). Kind of old school, but with Heresy/Crites that’s pretty much your zone, IMHO! By the way, if you can find some vintage Frazier speakers (Jack Frazier was a buddy of Paul Klipsch’s back in the day, and brilliant) - paired with tubes your jaw will drop to the floor...

Oh and this also - incredible for a SET amp: https://tubedepot.com/products/elekit-tu-8600-300b-se-tube-amplifier-kit-limited-run?gclid=EAIaIQobC...

And this guy will build if for you if you don’t have the inclination: https://www.etsy.com/listing/747186939/elekit-tu-8600-s-version-300b-power?ga_order=most_relevant&am...

Add some solid NOS tubes and it punches WAY above it’s price!

I suggest trying the Rogue series from $800 to $4,000 for easy use and it is not necessary to be an electrical engineer to use.  These are integrated amps and I also like the ones that have a tube 'pre-amp' and non-tube full amp.  These are the least fussy and give the richness of tubes without the many other hassels.  I have a Peachtree X-1 hybred integrated amp that is my favorite at 440 watts per channel.  I also have a nice Vincent 701 pre-amp for my turntable that features 1 12AU7 tube that really pumps up the vinyl that is further tubed by the 2 tubes in the amplifier 'pre-amp'.  This amp is not longer available new. 
 
Atma-sphere is built in Minnesota and run by really great people to work with and the producer of one of the best series built in the U.S.  A wide range of choices and they build to your specs and needs.  These guys will even send you a unit to try out before you purchase.  This is hard to beat.  I think they know once you have heard their amps you will park it in their lot.  If you talk with Ralph he will make it easy.  See the opening video on their web site.  My next amp will be from Atma-sphere where they will build a capable fully tubed amp with a tubed phono stage preamp built in for under $2,500.  You should at least 'test drive' one of their products.  

Richard