Ayre V5xe

I think sometimes we expect to "Hear" something special from our amps. The Ayre V5 takes on the sound of whatever is feeding it. It truly doesn't inject its own sound.
After going through as many amps as I have, yes, I would rank the Ayre up there with the best.
It is one of the quietest, most holographic amps I have ever used. It is very neutral in its sound.
If it has a flaw (really a bad word to use,)it is slightly lacking in the grunt region. It certainly wouldn't be confused with a monster amp in the bottom like the Parasound JC-1's ( but it does best that amp everywhere else.)
I personally think it works well with time and phase speakers. With other speakers, I would probably try something else. I don't think you would receive its true beauty even though it does sound great with any speaker.

Is there really such a thing as "Best" in audio? I don't think so. There's just a lot of different stuff! You will get as many responses for amps as they're posters as is the usual case.
Use to be audio was about accuracy. Now it's about whatever rocks an individuals boat at the moment that will be termed "Best."
No more truism exists than in speakers. Amps are a little different because most of the time in "Top" amps, it is in the little things. And, truth be told, how do you know you are hearing your amp and not some synergy loss with cables or sources? Hard to define things.