Tube Intergrated,Which One?Must be very Liquid

I know that this is WAY BELOW your budget, but while you're checking out a VAC Super Avatar, why not spend a few c-notes on an Antique Sound Lab MG SI15. This is a fun integrated, rated at 15 watts in pentode and 5 watts in triode. I used one to drive my Soliloquy 5.3s (90 db), and I was always amazed buy what $450 (used) could do. If I wasn't into vinyl, I daresay it would be my main rig (and I can afford to spend 10Xs more for an amp/preamp set up!) Also, it has only 2 12AX-7s and two KT-88s; retubing won't kill you! Food for thought.

GTS87, Crazy4blules makes a good point. I have heard that ASL gear and the piece I heard has the sound you are looking for. As I recall it was on a pair of Reference 3A De Cappo speakers. The performance belies the price point. Probably an even better deal than the Joule I mentioned.

If you can live w/only 2 inputs get a Berning DH270 OTL amp. That's what Bobby @ Merlin would probably tell you. They go for $4500 new(with a waiting list); the occasionally available used one can be had for around $3800, but there's a guy selling a prototype asking $3k. Can't say what a fair price for an ugly box, but I can tell you that the Berning amps sound fabulous. You can always add a Joule preamp later when more $$$ is available...

Spencer

I'm an ASL fan. I heard a Tulip 3.5 watt-per-channel on a pair of Oskar Heil "air-motion transformer" loudspeakers, and the sound stopped me in my tracks and forced me to listen for an hour. This happens about once every 5 years to me in high-end shops, where much of the equipment simply isn't musical. The Orchid is the integrated version, well under your budget, assuming your loudspeakers are sensitive as well as tube-friendly, or alternatively you have a small listening room. The bass was perfect (surprise, but bookshelf loudspeakers), and it was overall one of the five most perfect sounding systems I have ever heard. ASL make a large variety of tube integrateds

I have heard the Berning on VSMs a number of times and it is a great match. But I would not characterize it as "warm".