A used Tavish Adagio will be in your budget, if you can find one.
I would put it as just a bit below a Modwright PH9.0 (which I have and was able to compare with the Adagio; I sold mine for $1600).
I used the Adagio with my VPI Prime. It made my Darlington Labs MP-7 sound SS.
Maybe a Rogue Audio Ares? And of course the EAR834.
I think if you stay with no feedback/discrete designs you should be good to go.