With regards to the liquid musical timber, the pace, attack and vibrancy that a tube amplifier can naturally offer (if it is a good tube design and driving a load within it's peak operational performance values), I would suggest that you purchase a used Rowland amp. The Rowland amps seem to "pull" at you to drag you into the vastness of their soundstage (much like a tube amp) and they make you "feel" as if you are a "part" of the musical performance ... and they do it no matter "what" the volume setting... From "barely" able to hear it (microdynamics) to "front row" (concert level) loudness, the Rowland amplifiers are (quite simply) "magical". I am (currently) using Maggie 1.6QR's with a Rowland 112 and it is Audio Nirvana. The result is downright scarey with its holographic imaging and emotionally riviting involvement. Rowlands are not about "power" or "spec's" ... they about stating the "art" and bringing out "musical emotion". Your hunt for an amp will (forever) be over and you will never turn back.You can pick up Rowland within your budget (used), but models will vary. The 112 is usually a tad more than you wish to spend, but who knows what one may find ?