845 SET without any reservation !
Consonance make a very sweet sounding pair of 845 mono blocks within your price limit, also check DeHavilland.
Based on your description of aural fancy I would concur with Ralph & believe that you NEED to hear an 845 or GM70 SET before proceeding any further, these big thoriated tungsten tubes exist to do sumptuous, lush, rich, liquid golden midrange AND all the rest with sublime musicality ;-))
Consonance make a very sweet sounding pair of 845 mono blocks within your price limit, also check DeHavilland.
Based on your description of aural fancy I would concur with Ralph & believe that you NEED to hear an 845 or GM70 SET before proceeding any further, these big thoriated tungsten tubes exist to do sumptuous, lush, rich, liquid golden midrange AND all the rest with sublime musicality ;-))