Upgrading Integrated Amplifier - Musical Fidelity?

I tried to downsize my system by selling my Pass Labs X250 but found that to be a terrible mistake.  Over time and plenty of gear I finally realized what I wanted was the Pass sound, so I finally got a Pass Labs X250.8 to get back to happiness.  But along the way I had purchased a Musical Fidelity M6si to try out.  This was so not what I was looking for that I sold it very soon after getting it.  It wasn't warm, didn't grab my attention, didn't have any intestinal fortitude.  Instead of a lion's roar I got a cat's meow.  I liked the warmth of my vintage Marantz 2252 receiver more than the MF.  

Check out the Marantz PM7005.   Just a bit over your budget, but you can find them used for less.

There's also a used PM6006 on here, for under you budget.

Will the marantz be a step up in sound quality? Someone told me I should look at the new Cambridge Audio offerings.

I like Cambridge as well, I've owned the CXA80, but it does not include a phono input.

I dislike Musical Fidelity and find their stuff hardly sounds warm.  Cambridge is better but again, not warm. Try Marantz.