The Topaz IS a really cool desk, and if I am not mistaken, Soundtracs is British -and the Brits make the coolest consoles

A while back, say, two or three years, Allen & Heath made an 8-bus console that just kicked everyone elses rear in the same configuration. This console had an assignable tube preamp path, and it was 32 channels, with 4-band parametric eq and a mix B path. It was THE COOLEST console! I spoke to the A&H guys at NAMM this year and they told me they discontinued the console a while ago (drag), but if you can find one - grab it. If you can afford a used Soundcraft Ghost, that would also be in my first choice list. Studiomaster makes great desks for around your price range, but I don't remember what they are called.
The de-facto standard of course, is the Mackie - the overall quality and the quality of the pre's in the newer ones is close to commensurate with some way high-end desks.
Lastly, I recently saw a 24-channel / 8-buss
Tascam M3700 for $1,500 on ebay. If was I in the market for a used console I would have jumped on that for even $2,000; it had moving fader dynamic (not just snap-shot) automation, killer eq and a mix b path.
Just keep looking, and remember -it's all about what GOES IN that pretty much determines what comes out once get into these quality of desks. A good mic pre and mic is essential. These consoles can handle any mix job for sure, and you almost can't go wrong. So good luck!