I owned CS 2's for many years and tried quite a few different amps with them. The CS 2's with their 6 Ohms nominal/ 5 Ohm minimum impedance, are probably the easiest of all Thiel speakers to run with tubes, but with your budget and what I perceive from your thread to what your seeking, your probably better off with ss.
The top end needs to be monitored, any amp with a rising or hot top end should be avoided. At the opposite end, the ported bass, though fairly well extended can be a bit soft.
Within your budget:
My first pick, if you could find one at a price you'd feel comfortable with is Threshold S/500, preferably one that has recently had new caps and re bias done by somebody reputable like Jon Soderberg of Vintage Audio Repair.
My second choice would be a conrad-johnson MF 2500 preferably with the A upgrade.
These speakers need quality amplification. don't be afraid to spend money on the amps. It might be a bit nonconventional to spend so much on the amp to speaker ratio, but the combination will yield results that reveal the true value of the combination.
The top end needs to be monitored, any amp with a rising or hot top end should be avoided. At the opposite end, the ported bass, though fairly well extended can be a bit soft.
Within your budget:
My first pick, if you could find one at a price you'd feel comfortable with is Threshold S/500, preferably one that has recently had new caps and re bias done by somebody reputable like Jon Soderberg of Vintage Audio Repair.
My second choice would be a conrad-johnson MF 2500 preferably with the A upgrade.
These speakers need quality amplification. don't be afraid to spend money on the amps. It might be a bit nonconventional to spend so much on the amp to speaker ratio, but the combination will yield results that reveal the true value of the combination.