I don't know if this is what you are looking for but sometimes boreing is good.
Mavic Open Pro rims on Ultegra hubs, even after all these years, are still the standard to which other wheelsets are compared. Most of the mail order suppliers offer them for around $250.00 for the set. That's pretty cheap. They're not the lightest or the most aero or the most anything, but it's a good solid workmanlike wheelset that you'll never have to apologize for owning.