Affordable integrated pure class A?

If you do not need a lot of power and you can find one these rare gems from the 1980's in good working order, you might want to check it out:
http://www.hifi-review.com/153440-musical-fidelity-a1.html

I have owned a Unison S6 for the past few years with good success. Runs  pure class A and can be had on the used market for less than 2k usd. 

Along the lines of vintage gear, if you are willing to veer off the path to class B, NAD integrated amps are famous for delivering hifi sound quality on a tight budget. I’ve gone that route with a pair of NADs (3225PE + 3020i) bi-amped to power my Energy Reference Connoisseur speakers. The results are very pleasing to my ears, and cost only $150 each. 

if you have gathered anything from this discussion thread, it should be that you have to audition the equipment you intend to buy.   Over the years,  i have heard great sounding Class A amps and some really expensive awful sounding ones.  While you compare the purchase to buying a washer dryer, I would suggest that you are making the mistake of  false equivalence.  one is purely functional the other a matter of entertainment and enjoyment.   Washers and Dryers don't activate endorphins  nor do they create harmonic effects or bring back memories.   Acquire  your equipment as an iterative and involved process.  Would you buy a car without test driving it?  A piece of art without seeing it?

Sugden