I have an excellor 2500 on a 7ft 3-5kg penn rod with 300 mtrs of 10lb PE. Cost $250 and I couldn't be happier. Casts a mile. Have caught some big bream and flatties on it. Took a pretty big jew all the way in to the rock wall and it spat the hooks as I was crabbing down the wall to get it.
Caught a nice 55cm trevally on it too. Smooth drag, the rod pulled it up every big run