Adrian, I'm a long way from Maple(my reference to it was just to indicate that basic principles of audio technology of course still apply there), but your invitation is appreciated.
You appear to view this as a matter of mere personal "opinion", but on the contrary it's based on well-established principles of technology. All that amplifiers do is add more voltage so that there's enough to drive speakers to high volume levels. It would be rather amazing if simply doing this could somehow affect sound characteristics which have nothing to do with increased voltage. This applies to all amps, not just non-existent "perfect" ones. As long as the amplification is accomplished with audibly level frequency response and inaudibly low noise and distortion(achieved these days in even units of modest cost)nothing more can be done.
Of course, claims to the contrary are abundant, but when put to the(blind listening)test, they collapse for lack of support. The vintage Stereo Review
blind listening tests remain unchallenged by later results(not just by stubborn disagreement)and illustrate the lack of reliability in open listening while knowing the identity of the unit involved. Note that the sometimes flowery descriptions of sound characteristics when heard openly under identical conditions before the blind sessions began disappeared when the brand labels and price tags did.
The editor of the Audio Critic summarised this basic point rather well in
"Electronic Signal Paths Do Not Have a Personality!" . Failure to grasp this leads to a hopeless search for sound quality in basic amplification rather than concentrating time and money on features that matter(e.g., room EQ)and the many other variables that affect our listening enjoyment at home.
