@blindjim I think you can get into a set of Classic Audio Loudspeakers model T3 for the budget you've mentioned.
The speakers are easy to set up in most rooms. I have them about 6 inches from the wall behind them and they image very nicely. You don't need a subwoofer (they easily shake the building with only a few watts as they have dual 15" woofers in each cabinet) and they are easily driven by tubes as they are 98 db and 16 ohms.
There are a number of options so you can upgrade the speaker over time. Mine are set up with field coil midrange drivers; the midrange employs a beryllium diaphragm that has its first breakup at about 35KHz; the speaker is seamless, very fast, smooth and revealing.
The speakers are easy to set up in most rooms. I have them about 6 inches from the wall behind them and they image very nicely. You don't need a subwoofer (they easily shake the building with only a few watts as they have dual 15" woofers in each cabinet) and they are easily driven by tubes as they are 98 db and 16 ohms.
There are a number of options so you can upgrade the speaker over time. Mine are set up with field coil midrange drivers; the midrange employs a beryllium diaphragm that has its first breakup at about 35KHz; the speaker is seamless, very fast, smooth and revealing.