Dipping my toes into EL84 tubes

https://ankaudiokits.com/product/el84-l1-v2-integrated-amplifier/

A bit above budget but if you decide to think longer term, if have always thought AK kits look excellent.  I would really enjoy building one.  They also have C core options with superb quality parts at a much higher (but reasonable) price.  Kits currently 10% off.  Take a look

Nice thing is, those Audio Notes use the same circuit as the Tubes4HiFi, just with in-house made transformers and higher parts quality. Definitely gives you budget and bourgeois options.

I have a 15 year old Synthesis Ensemble integrated (Italian) with 8 EL84s.  Beautiful amp, though it runs hot, so you have to be careful with your choice of tubes.

Yeah, best bang for your buck EL84 power amp that I know of is the Tubes4Hifi version. It is based off the ANK el84 integrated. One can get just the PCB off the 'bay for $15-$20 dollars. Purchase the toroids separately or go with more traditional transformers. But I think if one spent full price for the kit you are still getting a good deal... Great price to performance ratio. 

I've dabbled with NOS tubes but one can get pretty great performance from the JJ's & even the cheaper Russian el84's. 

Having owned at least two of their amps, I’d like to vouch for Glow Audio as well. For the price, I think their build quality is second to none. Unless you’re using it in a desktop scenario, I would go for their push pull amp. I set it up for my mother with some Klipsch RP-600M and NOS tubes and I am digging the results.