Maybe Leaving SET for Solid State because I want bass

It's how much CURRENT the amp can deliver - not watts. I run 30 watts SET from 845 tubes into 90db 4ohm - 2.8 ohm speakers. It's not an "easy load" but I have very controlled bass into 30Hz. The power supply weighs 50lbs and the output transformers weigh 80lbs. Yes, of course, you could go to Class D or Class A solid state and possibly be satisfied with the sound. Ralph is very respected, and I admit I haven't heard his Class D amps, but the ones I've heard/owned were good but not great like a well designed/built SET tube amp. 

Have you looked into a Pathos amplifier with the InPol circuit?  I think the least expensive one is the TT at $8,000.  InPol is described as having the best characteristics of SET while also having real power. I’ve never heard one, but as I read through this thread it made me think of Pathos InPol. 

@atmasphere 

As a result of your distractive and defensive posture to my original premise "What is arbitrary is how tube amplifier manufacturers publish specifications which provide no valuable information to the consumer to compare one manufacture's product to another.". I've decided to bow out of this conversation and leave it as is after your comment - "Get a variac for heaven’s sake!" with it's context and let my fellow Audiogon subscribers, if they so choose, evaluate this exchange for themselves.

@faustuss You seem to be making it my fault about something you claim is universal with all tube amp manufacturers. I've simply corrected erroneous statements in your posts. That is not a reflection on who you are FWIW, or what I think of you. Its simply a matter of getting things straight. 

You didn't explain what was meant by an OTL driving resistors. Atma-Sphere is the oldest OTL manufacturer in the world; no-one has ever made a comment like that to me so it piqued my curiosity. 

Its a simple fact that if one is measuring an amplifier and their AC line has insufficient current then there will be a Voltage drop which should be corrected if one wants to make accurate measurements. A typical home AC line is 15 Amps. If you are measuring an amplifier that really should be plenty of current for all but the very largest of amps made. Our MA-3 makes 500 Watts and is able to run on a 15 Amp line; a 1000 Watt solid state amp could too so I really do not understand what your beef is. At any rate anyone doing such tests should have access to a variac. Its a basic sort of thing when doing test and measurement.  

"much broader question regarding the validity of what the industry wants us to know"

would be good to see some clarification on:

1. Who is Industry? names, designers, standards etc.

2. Who is “us”.