Joe, you're of course correct: overenthusiastic reports by users of audio equipment shouldn't be taken seriously, especially when they fly in the face of well-established principles of audio technology. The story is still the same: flat frequency response along with inaudibly low noise and distortion equal audibly transparent amplification, and this is true regardless of whether the amplifier is in a $300 receiver or is a $30,000 separate unit. Again, The Audio Critic puts it well in
"Electronic Signal Paths Do Not Have a Personality" . Claims to the contrary have failed when put to the(properly controlled blind listening)test and manufacturers don't want to be made to look silly by claiming mysterious qualities that no amplifier can have.
