Do you not mind permasoaking stones?
Some soakers that a lot of people like in the 1k range: King 1k, Bester 1.2k, JNS 800, Gesshin 2k
Lower grit: Gesshin 400, Beston 500 and JNS 300 (splash-n-go)
FWIW I have a Shapton GS 1k, King 1k, JNS 800, Gesshin 400, and JNS 300
I love, love, love the JNS 800 for the 1k range. It is more 1-2k IMO. It's a large stone and really comes into its own once it's been soaked for awhile and really broken in. I took a diamond plate to it when it first came in, thinking I'd broken it in. I was wrong. I was on the fence about it at first - I felt like it was a little too thirsty, too slow, and not muddy enough for my liking. The more I've used it and soaked it, the better its gotten. It cuts faster, needs less water, muds up easier etc. Nice balance between hard and soft, and I find it works well on both my stainless and carbon knives. I'll leave some of my beater/workhorse stainless knives with that edge - and with other knives I have good results jumping straight to the Rika 5k.
I haven't had the JNS 300 for too long but it is a very nice, smooth feeling stone. It's nowhere near as fast cutting as the Gesshin 400 but it also doesn't seem to dish anywhere near as much and doesn't require soaking. I'm happy with both, but, as of now, for thinning projects I reach for the Gesshin