Heads Help!

My question for you all is how to get the most out of my heads without a lot of $$, OR, should I be looking at another head option? Chinese aluminum heads are about $1000 assembled, that is the most I would like to spend, but can I get just as much flow and a nice 10-1 compression out of magnum heads or j heads or my smog heads for less $$? Opinions welcome, thanks in advance...

When I had my iron heads done maybe 15 years ago it cost me about 1200 bucks for porting, new valves etc..

If you get an OOTB head I'd at least have a shop check them out before you run them.

In regards to where they are made? I don't know which heads are made where. I've run the eddy heads with decent success.