Price Paid:  $1800.00 from Used online

Summary:
In order to get a STEREO amplification setup that significantly outperforms this little miracle you'd probably have to spend at least five times the SS's Retail.
This amp does NOT sound (no matter how it's configured) like a tube amp, it's much more accurate and less euphonic than that, at least compared to tube amps that I've heard, (and that's not a slam) If you like tube sound a lot you won't like solid state and vice versa, generally speaking because it (either one) panders to each individual's "fetishist" preferences over the other. This amps delicacy at low level contributes to an effortlessness that tends to make you think that nothing is going on when in fact the lack of strain is precisely why it's worth the asking price because just about nothing else close to this asking price does that. It blew three fuses in my custom built setup using B-G ribbons before I realized how much louder I was actually listening as the subtle distortion cues that tell you that this is "loud" are gone: A significant leap toward that suspension of disbelief that you are in the presence of a real orchestra. (My listening is based primarily on large scale orchestral. Is it the best amp in the world? Maybe not but it's got to be one of the best at this price, no contest. One for the ages.

Strengths:
Unbelieveable detail, power and control. Delicacy and arc welder current all in one chassis, pretty cool.

Weaknesses:
No power cord.

Similar Products Used:
Krell, Mac, Rowland, MF,