Let's talk tube amps - no ss discussion

You'd better specify speakers you are planning to drive.
Generally speaking, for speakers with normal sensitivity I always liked(and owned) BAT amps.
For your budget you can get used VK60( maybe even monoblocks) or used stereo VK75.
Best when used with BAT preamps.

VTL 300 OR 450 SIGNATURE amplifiers are excellent choices also work good with placette passive unit.

I second the EAR 534.

I owned a Sonic Frontiers Power 2 that I liked real well. I now have a ARC VT200 which blows the SF out of the water (as far as my system is concerned). It is mated to Martin Logan Prodigy's. You can get a Power 2 used for around $2000 and while not quite a VT200 they are great amps. I tink VT200's are selling for 4500 or so. I have never had a proble with either.

Thanks for the input. Speaker sensitivity is 85 db, ouch! But they sound great. I have a CJ MV60. How do your recommendations compare? No one has mentioned Manely, Ayon or Joule. Any reasons?