I'd like to throw in a last minute recommendation for the Kimber combo. I own a pair of 1011s, and I think it's the best RCA IC in it's price range. It's also very diverse. It beats my $250 Van Den Hul Integration on both Turn Table, just barely, and CD, by a fairly wide margin. (I still use the Van Den Hul for analogue, because I like most everyone have financial constraints. :) It just brings out the delicate sounds of each instrument more clearly. From the slow decay of the cymbal or snare drum, to the singer's breath on the mic before starting to sing. I agree with you on KCAG's or even Silver Streaks. They are definitely bright and very system dependent. There are only a few Component\Speaker combos I would recommend them for.
I've heard the entry level Kimber balanced 1111, (I know apples and oranges) against the Ayre sig series and Cardas neutral reference, and for about 1/2 the price it absolutely tromped them on accuracy, and energy it brought to Coltrane's horn. The treble was so much cleaner and more extended. It just made the instrument sound so alive. Even the store owner was surprised at the difference since he demoes his high-end equipment on the Ayre series.
I own a pair of 8TC's, and am still kicking myself for not paying the few hundred more for a pair Monocle's. To me, that's as much as I'd be willing to spend on speaker cables barring winning the lottery. I think there's a reason the 8TC's won Hi-Fi's speaker cable shoot-out in their price range. And the Hero won Absolute Sound's $250 or less IC shoot-out. Just a testament to the value in Ray Kimbers' products.
I know that combo is at the top-end of your price range, but it comes highly-recommened. Outside of that, I agree with the Acoustic Zen combo recommend.
Good luck with your choice.
