What to try?

@maganga The Willsenton R8 is poorly constructed? What a blantant and biased lie. You’ve obviously never seen one in person so don’t comment on gear you’ve never experienced. The Muzishare you seemed to enjoy comes from the same factory btw, along with Line Magnetic, are they also poorly constructed?

@laecp for the most part your choices come down to China vs USA, big differences in price, but in terms of sound quality I have no idea. My search ended with the R8, my first tube amp and I don’t see myself upgrading to another tube integrated. Your best bet is to see what you can source locally and then compare them. I can comment on the Muzishare x7 and Willsenton R8 in terms of features, it was between those two when I was shopping. They are both available on Amazon with free shipping and a 30 day return policy, so not much risk there.

I won’t comment on sound quality, that is very subjective, and there are plenty of videos on Youtube with commentary.  There are some key differences however that may sway you in one direction or the other. The Muzi has VU meters (very cool) a balanced input if you need one, and a MM phono input. The Willsenton comes in two different finishes (black or silver), is easier to change between KT88 and el34 tubes (has a bias switch) and a remote with more functions (can swap between triode/UL, & source) The R8 is also a little less money. I didn’t need the MM phono, prefer the black finish, and the bias switch was also a big factor. Oh and I love being able to change UL/Triode on the fly, it makes a huge difference in sound. And finally the R8 is much heavier, by around 15lbs. Due what you want with those details.

+ 2 on this:

I like yogiboy's suggestion. 

Just a suggestion. Ron at New Record Day did a sound demonstration of 4 amps here:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=new+record+day+amp+comparison

It features the Rogue Audio Cronus III, the Black Ice F35, the Galion TS120E which mostly are in your price range. The fourth amp, the LTA Z40+ integrated, is not in your price range. I don't know anything about your speakers and I'm not making any recommendations but given the comparison, maybe this sound demonstration will help or give you some ideas. 

I am very interested in the R8, the Pathos Classic one Mkiii and the Line Magnetic 805 amp. It is a lot more money so would have to be used. The Muzishare and Cayin amps look terrific  also. Still reading forums etc. am going to demo a Kt88 Line magnetic at a dealer near Boston in a few weeks. Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.  @Mganga how was the Pathos lifeless. In what way?

@laecp123 I didn't say the Pathos was lifeless; I said it was anemic in my system.  My room is well treated which typically allows the music to expand well beyond the speakers and with the Pathos the sound almost entirely between the speakers.  So in that sense I described the sound as anemic.  Perhaps others would use a different word.  I would not go so far as to say it was lifeless, but for me it didn't work.  It was a used mkii however and perhaps the caps were due for replacement?  I only share my experience.  I have read of others loving their amps, but that more often seems to come from those who use them as mono blocks.  

@perkadin I only share my experience with the one Willsenton R8 that I had in my possession, which I purchased new off of Amazon.  I would share my receipt with you but you would probably call it a fabrication.  I do not understand why someone who has a different opinion on a subject than someone else, would resort to assuming that person is a lier or biased as opposed to just having had a different experience or exposure.  Perhaps my example was poorly constructed?  I suppose some people are wired up with all negative leads.  Anyway, I am fairly evenly tempered and logically minded.  I know that these three amps all come from various areas of the same factory.  However, they were made at different times by potentially different people under potentially different parameters, etc, etc.  I don't know why one felt better made than the other but it was clear enough to me.  From the finishing of the remote (such as how the buttons fit and the edges of the metal were finished), to how the dials on the front of the amp were fit (such as wether they turned nice and smoothly or wiggled loosely) to how the metal work looked around the transformers, all of it added up for me to that of a well made Muzishare and a so-so made Willsenton.  As to whether any of that workmanship extended to the inside where it counts I cannot say as I did not open up either amp.  But it makes me wonder just a little.  The Line Magnetic was built like a tank from what I remember (parted with it a few years ago).  BTW, I returned both the Muzishare and the Willsenton, so I am not sure where bias would benefit me in anyway at all.  But it sure seems some do not like to hear dissenting opinions to their own.  All of the above is in IMO and experience only of course.  And I hope that my Willsenton experience was a one-off.