Most transparent power amp

The simple fact is that four ohms is not good for **any** amplifier made regardless of the technology, and this is easy to see in the amplifier's specifications. Distortion is always higher, and the distortion is of a type that is easily heard as brightness and hardness. This is why Steve McCormick sent a letter to Paul Speltz (who makes the ZERO) stating that his amps sound better driving 4 ohms through the ZERO rather than directly. The amp has lower distortion and you can hear it right away.

George; I have nothing but respect for your technological expertise. All I have is my empirical experience. My ARC Ref150se sounds lifeless and dull with one set of speaker cables mated to my DeVore O/93's unless I use the 12 ohm taps and yet with another set of speaker cables (lower gauge, completely different design) my DeVores sound hard and bright unless I use the 4 ohm taps and with the 4 ohm taps the sound is magical. Can you unequivocally state that using the 4 ohm taps on any tube amp, including my ARC Ref150se, ipso facto results in brightness and hardness? ARC in it's owners manual states that the consumer should try 4, 8. and 12 and judge for oneself. I have to wonder, why would such a reputable amp manufacturer even offer the option if it were such a compromise? And what might account for my experience described above other than accusing me of having bad ears?

Yes, Ralph, sorry. 
Thx-I misread your post. I think I was tired from a long day at the office when I read it. When you said;

The simple fact is that four ohms is not good for **any** amplifier made regardless of the technology, and this is easy to see in the amplifier's specifications.

I thought that "four ohms" referred to the amp side of things and not the speaker. Your post is clear, it was my failure to carefully read it.