Some pics of what I'm using and not using right now.

I might, I have one in mind. I hate buying new though and I've never seen a used one come up for sale. For good reason. Like proper JBLs, no-one who gets them is interested in swapping them out, you have to wait for an owner to die and then be quick.

No not Benchmark, never heard one.

Will keep quiet about it as if one does come up I don't want even more people jumping on it lol.

Top tier get the harmonics right, that's the difference between 2 and 3. That's most obvious with things like vocal harmonies, the purity of tone is there. But once you hear it in that you hear it in all the other sounds too.

Tier 2 amps sound fine, good even, until you compare to tier 3 and then you realise tier 2 sound broken by comparison. Tier 3 aren't necessarily the last word in transparency but it helps if they are that too.

The KSA100 I would put in top tier as it gets the harmonics right. But lacks the transparency. Same with, say, the Radford STA15. The 50S has it all though.

I want it all. And I want it now.

That could be in a song.

lol that might be a problem.

I don't doubt the Neurochrome for transparency but it's the harmonics thing that is the most important. I don't know if it has that until I hear it.

That's why I'm unwilling to take a punt on anything expensive without hearing it first. You can see the level of transparency in the measurements; but the harmonics thing, I don't know how to spot that in the measurements, or what measurements would show it.

Like the Linn LK100 I've got here, classic Tier 2 amp. Clear as a bell, crystal clean, but doesn't do the harmonics right. The sweetness is not there and for me, without the sweetness you don't have music, just sound. It can still be impressive and entertaining, but there's some part of the animal bit of the brain that ultimately rejects it as 'not right.'

It's the sweetness Jerry. Some have it some just don't. It's not the only criteria but it's the one I consider essential.

I could show you with two amps, back to back and you'd say 'oh right that's what you mean.' One of those things you can't properly put it into words.

If I was going to go for a valve amp it would be a Radford STA15 or 25 since they are already a known quantity to me.

Have been tempted when they come up for sale, but they have always been too far away for collection to be a realistic option otherwise I might have gone for it.

As far as the Doge goes, they look good value but as always I'd want to either see a full suite of independent measurements, or try one in my own system for a week or so first.

I don't put any faith in subjective reviews. Different system, room, taste in music and expectations. You don't know if the reviewer has any real idea what quality replay sounds like. Or if they are honest. I see rave reviews of some right old tat, especially speakers.

I don't think you can get any idea of the sound from Youtube. I know that goes against the grain these days, I don't know why though. You're listening to the sound of an amp and speakers through another set of amps and speakers. I suppose if it sounds crap you can tell that, as the second set of amps and speakers won't fix crap. But otherwise there's nothing to be learnt there.

yes the recording quality is often good but you're still running it through another system to hear it.

It's just nothing like enough evidence for me to take blind punts on kit costing four figures.

I've watched a couple of videos now on the Chord M Scaler - 'here it is with M-scaler switched in, here it is with M-scaler switched out'.

No difference can be heard. But people who have heard/own Mscaler say it makes an obvious difference. An obvious difference that does not show up on Youtube. Assuming it does make an obvious difference that does clearly show the limitations of auditioning anything via Youtube, does it not?

I'm trying to find a solution for the tiniest of issues in what is, on the whole, a great sounding system. That sort of subtlety just isn't going to come across via Youtube.

The Topping is still in the system?

How are you getting on with it?

Wow, thats quite a damning assesment oif the Soncoz lol

£15!....thats a pisser

Don't squash my sensationalist approach to hifi with valid reasoning! lol

Just listening to Stone Roses 'Second Coming' now. I know it's a bit of a stodgy recording but I listened to this a couple of days ago and now there is proper cymbal decay whereas last time there was just a mush. I remember actively thinking how Sh#t it sounded.

Just a bit. Think I might have cracked it here.

I really hope so as you have been missing it for a great deal of time!

Maybe a lesson to all? Keep your rack tidy!

I have it on 4 as one of the reviews (Paul Rigby) reckoned this was their preference, not tried the others yet.

Quite funny in that review, he complains that there is not an option to select no filter. When it's pointed out to him in the comments that there has to be a filter he tries to cover up by saying he prefers not to have a choice. Err yeah, okay mate.