Let's talk tube amps - no ss discussion

Are you talking new or used or both ($2500.00-3500.00)?
I bought my AitTight 300B used in that range and it sounds superb with both passive and active pre-amps.

I own two tube amps - the Mcintosh 2102 which sells for 6k - 100 wpc and an EAR 534 which sells for 3800 new. The EAR is 50 wpc and has balanced and rca ins also has adjustable gain for each channel and can be set to mono. It looks great and is virtually maintenance free in tube adjustment. It sounds great ! Clean and powerful and works well with both types of preamps. The 2102 is warmer sounding - probably not as good in the highs but has more guts in the midbass and bass area.

Since I left it open-ended, let's say 2500-3500 new or used.

Try the vtl monoblocks the 125's are in your price range and although I would not call them lush they "RIDE THE LINE" between tube and solid state if this is what your after.

I use a pair of Sonic Frontiers Power 3 SE's with a 10K Holco passive volume control (driven by a Sony SACD 777ES). I love the sound of them - *really* good bass (as good as most SS) and clear, neutral midrange. They are a bit "dry" sounding, though, so they are not the amps for you if you need a wetter, warmer, more tubey sound. They take 16 x KT88's so re-tubing costs are higher than normal. They run $3500 or so used for the non-SE version. If you don't need so much power (260W/ch) you could try the Power 2 (120W/ch). Kevin Deal has a Power 2 SE for sale at the moment for $3400 (new - and the last one!).