I'm willing to bet, ( this would be a great test/demonstration) that my integrated (YBA Passion) if it was AB'd with the very very top amps, in a BLIND FOLD test, would hold it's own. Not only mine, but many other killer $5000 amps, as well. Nobody in the reviewing industry, wants to mess with blind tests. There's huge visual, psychological, placebic, and a host of other factors in this audio kingdom, as there are in many other fields. The human factor is limitless in its' possibilities/perceptions. Remember, genius has its limitations, but ignorance is limitless.
high-end vs. ultra high-end amplifiers
It is quite frustrating to know that some amplifiers (Boulder, FM Acoustics, Accuphase) are sounding better than even very expensive ones from the big boys (Mark Levinson, Krell, Bryston, Spectral). I wonder why there is such a difference. Madrigal, Krell, Bryston, Spectral, they all belong to the high-end sector of audio industry and they are claiming they are making the best amplifiers. But I know that this is not true: I've heard amplifiers from Boulder and FM Acoustics and they sound just better than the Madrigals, Krells and so on. Is it because Boulder and FM Acoustics have more know how about amplifier design (I suppose not) or do they use more expensive parts and better circuit topologies? Do they have brighter technicians and designers? There must be an explanation for this phenomenon. It isn't magic! Maybe someone from the audio industry can reply to this thread.