What are the best GaN Amplifiers available today?

However, the majority are still rather sterile and lacking in dynamics.

I am wondering what is meant by 'dynamics'. IME, most of the time when audiophiles talk about 'dynamics' they are really talking about higher ordered harmonic distortion. Dynamic contrast should come from the recording, not anything else.

In the 1980's all the best measuring equipment was supposed to sound the best and now we know that was not true, maybe in 20 years all the current best measuring equipment will not be considered the best sounding equipment.

​​​​​​@invalid FWIW Dept.: you're talking about measurements made 35-40 years ago or so. Just as any other field of technology, the measurement world has vastly improved. IME sometime in the 1990s, we crossed a threshold where we could finally measure a lot of stuff we were hearing that we could not measure prior. But many audiophiles are still making decisions based on how things were back before that!Imagine trying to surf the web on an Apple 2 of an IBM PC...

The problem we have now is almost as bad: most people including those that make the measurements, fail to understand their significance WRT how the ear/brain system perceives sound.

Dr. Choueri will approve Atmasphere observation for sure...😊

For me the advise of two experts is enough...

The problem we have now is almost as bad: most people including those that make the measurements, fail to understand their significance WRT how the ear/brain system perceives sound.

@mapman… “@invalid, …when I look at measurements, specs, or other objective information, I’m looking as much if not more for red flags ie clear problem areas as I am which measure best…”.

In this post I think you did an excellent job of rationally stating what an experienced audiophile with a bit of leaning towards measurements would do. Measurements are just one of many sources to learn more about a component, not by a long shot the only. There are things to be learned, but the bottom line is, what does it sound like. Your views are not remotely ASR like.

I had a Peachtree Nova 300 in the past. Most recently went from my 805a powered tube amp to a set of the class d Atma-Sphere's and life is wonderful. If anyone wants to send me some of their class d's to evaluate/compare to the Atma-Sphere's I'll be glad to do it. 

For design and for synergy measures are fundamental...

Psycho-acoustic is based on measures not only electronical but physiological etc...

To tune a room and to refine a system we need to learn how to listen...

Our ears are also a tool...