any one box amps that come close to monoblocks?

"I know the mono is better sonically”

Emster,
What do you mean exactly? If you mean that a designer, who has wringed the last musical nuance out of his circuit design but would like to take it still further, might do that by splitting his design into two boxes at considerable expense, then you are right. But if you mean that an amp in two boxes is better than an amp in one box, at a price point, then I disagree. Many top designers, like FM Acoustics, make very expensive single box amps that will thoroughly trounce the majority of monoblocs. I’m not trying to scold. I just don’t wan’t you to feel that you’re making some big compromise because you’re seeking a single box solution. That’s just marketing puffery.

Phaeton...you're absolutely right. There are so many "facts" that are so wrong on these pages....and yet they persist.

Have to agree with Phaelon . And would add that a stereo amp at the same price will trounce a pair of mono's every time .

Let's see... LAMM M2.2 are $25k ? or so. Are there stereo amps that will clearly be better in most applications?
But if we are talking used pieces, things might be different. Say, Rowland 8Ti that was, I think, $6k here a few months ago. Try to better it with monoblocks.
So it is not so linear, it depends including on particular piece at particular price.

Pricing may be a touch higher than your budget (with discount who knows?) but The Gryphon Diablo sits nicely in the category you aspire to !!