What is the best integrated tube amp under $3k ?

Any idea of where I can audition VAC, Audio Note, Air Tight or some other top end HiFi in the Chicago area? As huge as this place is, it doesn't seem to have many tube equipment dealers that I have been able to find yet.

... and a very big Thank You to you Trelja ! Your totally unselfish help in biasing my JOR is very much appreciated. The tech actually calibrated it with a 400 hz square wave and it sounds awesome. I spoke with Pierre Gabriel this morning and told him of my ordeal with the loose solder joint. I also told him about the tube upgrades and he fully approved of the Mazda 12ax7s tubes I just put in.

I have it tuned up as best I can right now, but I am the kind of guy that would love some reassurance that my JOR sounds as good as any other JOR out there. Pierre told me that they are going to look for more Jadis dealers in the USA in the near future. John, I wish you would open up a store up here. 5 million population ;-)

Trelja-

I bought a matched quad of new Russian Gold Lion KT88 and a few different 12ax7 with my latest and greatest being a matched pair of NOS French Mazda 12ax7s's with the silver anodes from 1962. Have you heard these before? They seem to make the bass tighter, for lack of a better descriptor. I finally spoke with Pierre, and he definitely is a very charming guy. If I keep the JOR, I might consider finding a matched quad of NOS KT88's to try.

Thanks for the great observations. I put a tremendous value on the opinions of you folks.

I will most likely try to explore other top end brands in the Chicago area. But after listening to your comments, I will probably have to look far and wide before I can find a worthy contender to replace my JOR.

Thanks for all the great responses. I am next going to ask for more opinions on creating a short list for top end cables. I know it will be as interesting as this was,

Happy listening !

The Cayin is a very beautiful piece. It was a toss up between a Cayin and a Jadis in the end for me.