Warner Imaging! This amp has the sweetness and nuance of the Pass Alephs but also does the frequency extremes, and with seemingly endless power. This amp is NOT strictly neutral - it is on the warm side. If you are familiar with Atma-Sphere OTL tube amps, this amp is like a solid state version of the Atma-Spheres, but with no load or dynamic limitations. This is THE solid state amp for tube lovers.
Best solid-state amp made anywhere
I'd like to open up this "best of" to include amps from New Zealand, Canada, France, England, Germany and (my personal favorite) Italy, as well as whoever else I've left out (no extraterrestrial amps, please). I have spent some time with the most amazing solid state amp - made by Aloia of Italy and uses an inductive (!) power supply. These amps have a naturalness and ease I haven't previously encountered in solid state, not even Pass or Claytons. Have you noticed that the Italians make superb audio equipment? In this country, audio engineering is to engineering as podiatry is to medicine. It just doesn't typically draw the cream of the crop. In Italy music matters far more, and audio equpiment is designed by people who will make an opera singer sing her part over if they aren't satisfied with her performance. Well enough sociology - what's your vote for best solid state amp?