Best Phono solid state under 2K?

It's a little more than $2K with all the upgrades but I would encourage you to consider the K&K maxxed out.

While I have not heard many of the current contenders at that price point, I would agree w Jtimothya- ZYX Artisan. There might be some new stock left @ former dealer Sorasound that would be very close to your budget or definitely used would be under $2K. A very, very good piece that can hold its own w such top end phono stages as Manley Steelhead, Doshi, and high end VAC. Its not AS good, but the difference is small. Plenty of gain for LO MC carts (active gain stage) w none of the difficulties associated with transformer matching.

I tend to agree with the cognoscenti that the Ayre P5Xe, Xono, and JLTi may stand above some of the rest, all of which are also fine. I am pleased with my P5Xe, but I have no basis for claiming it is superior to either of the other two. I never heard the ZYX Artisan, but I take Swampwalker's word for its goodness. Audiofeil, Re the Xono, does the "big" power supply make much difference as compared to the standard one? Another phono stage that is getting mentioned as a "giant killer" is the Jasmine 2.0SE. It may use tubes, however.

Easy: Jasmine LP2.0SE or Mark II. Less than half your max.

Phil

Addendum: The Jasmine 2.0SE is solid state, not tubes. Costs $500, so fits all your desires. Question to 213Cobra: The 2.0 Mk II is said on the Jasmine website to be an upward evolution of the 2.0SE, but on eBay the 2.0SE costs a few bucks more than the MkII. What's up with that? Looking at photos of the respective circuit boards, it seems that the diff between the two versions must relate to the choice and/or quality of the capacitors. Otherwise, they appear exactly alike. It looks also like a DIYer could make further upgrades to the circuit; there is lots of room to play.