Price Paid:  $1250.00 from Chimera Labs (chimer

Summary:
Easily the best amp(s) I have owned. Dynamics, accuracy and no grain. No classic tube roll off of frequency response. Incredible detail and extension on the frequency extremes. Tight, deep bass response that belies the amps size. As close to a "live band sound" that I have ever heard. 8 watts/channel. Can be "voiced" to your system by using various power and driver tubes. 6L6, 6CA7, EL34,KT66,WE350B,12AX7,5751,12AY7,6072. Pricing is ridiculously low compared to performance. $1,200 - $1,500 or so depending on parts configuration. These amps should sell for multiples of that price. Match with Chimera's interconnect series II and the performance is stunning. Highly recommend all copper rca's and speaker binding post option to match up with series II interconnect and speaker cable. Until Chimera makes a better amp, I will not own another amp.

Strengths:
Everything. Effortless, accurate. Incredibly cheap for it's performance level.

Weaknesses:
None. Does need high efficiency speakers. 93db or better is ideal. I guess a live band in my living room would sound better. Beyond that, i don't know of anything else that does.

Similar Products Used:
Naim, B&K, Dyna, Bogen, Rotel

Price Paid:  $1300.00 from mail order direct

Summary:
when i first saw this amp, i thought "how can something so small make enough head room to create a big stage or have any real bass?"well size means nothing...these amps have a very unique sound...simon and garfunkle said it best ...what you hear is thesound of silence...there is absolutly no sonic signature at all....i have been listening to tube audio for the last 20 years, and have had everything in my audio system and these amps are the best at an unbelivable price!i have spent 10k on a pair of 300b monoblocks,and now i know the secret is the secret is the build quality and the parts selection used in the ace...so get rid of those amps that cost as much as a car and buy a pair of these and realise that ther is still "audio magic" out there...and by the way, i have never had any trouble at all with this product...i am driving klipsh lascalla's (105 db@1watt@1meter)...i use a vintage (stock)SP3A1..wit a very high quality 3 peice CD front end...and of course all my interconnect is made by chimera labs...

Strengths:
along with being the most silent (low level detail)and good bass slam..these amps have a seamless stage that puts music at beyond a right angle to the listener... the clarity and bandwith is as good as it gets...they are not warm or cold...there is no sonic signature at all...they amplifie the signal only, without adding or removing any music...i does not matter if you are listening to chamber music,geateful dead or trance...it play only what has been recorded...my wife and i go to alot of different shows here in s.f.and i have yet to be at a show where the live music sounds as clean or as natural as the same music being played through the ACE...THESE AMPS CAN USE A VARIETY OF TUBES SO YOU CAN USE THEM IN ANY SIZE ROOM...I am using JAN 6L6 (power) and RCA 6072 in the front end...the added volume control to the amp gives a very accurate balance control with or with out a pre amp...you can drive your CD player direct.

Weaknesses:
i cannot find any weakness...

Similar Products Used:
i cannot find anything even close to the performance of these little amps...this is the way audio should be...