Luke, there aren’t near as many harp makers out there as guitar makers. Understand my point here? Listen to recordings of harps that you think sound good, then research what kind and make that harp is. That may help steer you in the direction of brand you may buy. That doesn’t mean that you can’t find a lower end harp with a great sound though. Sometimes they just happen. Another good thing is to start is looking through the forums here, reading feedback that people have written about harps they’ve tried, bought, even leased (ever thought of leasing one?). Many harp showrooms and teachers have harps that they lease out.
Look at the pre-owned harps on this site to get an idea of what used harps sell for. Good luck with your search!