Andy,
Do you need a line stage only unit or also one with a phono stage. If you need the phono, the SP9 could be a good starting point. But something like the LS7 with a more warm and rich tonality might be preferable. The biggest problem with the older SP series is their mediocre line stage which for today's dominant CD market, this is a big factor in a purchase. The SP products were really designed with phono playback as the primary sourse.
Just stay away from the highly analytical sounding LS1, LS2 and LS3 that sell in your price range. With these, you might as well go solid state and not bother with the added maintenance with tubes.
Another product to investigate is the BAT VK3. BAT products are exceptional value and get a lot of rave reviews here.
Years ago I borrowed an SFL-2 for a holiday weekend and this had great resolution and extension at the frequency extremes but the openness, bloom, dimensionality was severely lacking. So I suspect the smaller version SFL-1 could be very similar.
It comes down to what you seek here. There is a constant trade-off and balancing game between 3-dimensionality and getting great decays and space around the instruments vs. a more dynamic and detailed presentation. At your price range, you need to determine what is more important here and focus on a product that accels in that area. The CJ house sound is more to the former with the ARC to the latter. I would put the BAT in the middle.
I must disagree with the comment from Studio1 that the differences are minimal until you get to $4k. If we are talking about used market prices, products like the ARC LS5 in the $1500-2500 range depending on which version, and the BAT 31SE which I just sold here, both compete with and destroy so much of the competition that costs far more.
From my experience in putting together audio systems, I find the line stage to be the make or break point of a musical system. All links are so important but I found and heard many great products in the other links to maintain a highly magical and dimensional system. Unfortunately this is not at all true for line stages as I have found only a handful of products in the last 2 decades that bring on the "you are there" emotional connection to the performance. Why this is, who knows, but it has been a consistent observation.
Rather than just shoot in the dark here, try to hear products of similar topologies from these companies even if they are more expensive. This will give you an idea as to what the company's sonic focus is. But keep in mind that companies do some serious 180's from time to time in the sound of their product line.
John
