Review that offers a perspective on / Sugden FBA-800 - Coda S5.5 - Pass Labs XA-25

overpriced, overhyped, well marketed

All three amplifiers are at the top of the list for eliminating grain/dryness in their overall presentation

???

what is this direction we have "evolved" to?

Hey parkergetdean,

Have you heard with your own ears any of these "overhyped" amplifiers? Also, don't quite understand your statement, we have "evolved" to. The ideas of eliminating any grain/dryness and having and overall liquidity/silkiness have been the ideals of great tonality for years.

Teajay - The Sugden review mentions a few speaker choices that match well for Pass and the Coda amps, but not the Sudgen amp. Can you elaborate a bit on the characteristics of a speaker that would mate well with the Sudgen? 

Also, the review mentions that the Sugden combines the best sonic virtues of the Pass and Coda amps. Can you further explain what this means from your perspective? To me as the reader it means the Sugden is all of warm, transparent, fast, liquid, grainless. Based on my interpretation, it seems like the best sounding of the three. Do you agree?   

Hey jwr159,

If you look at the speakers I used in the review on FBA-800, very different designs, the take is that the amplifier will sound excellent with virtually any speaker.

I think you missed my point, regarding the "best sounding" of the three. There is no best, the three amps are superlative, it comes down to personal taste and system synergy. 

it's all relative but 9K? I have heard Sugden gear - not this one - and was underwhelmed. I never once heard any praises from anyone who considered spending the price of a decent used car on an amp. 

but just ignore me, I am a low-fi