Demar, the Audio Research LS 9 ans LS 3 are both Solid state units and within you range, Some of the other units mentioned are hybred designs that don't use many tubes, the LS 1 only uses one 6922. If you are interested in phono at all the SP 9III and SP 14 are great choices and within your budget, the 9 uses two 6922 and the 14 uses one. Audio Research pre amps work very well with Audio Research amps. There is a synergy there.Some of the others might be great too but you can be pretty safe in my experience matching ARC to ARC.
