The problem with comparing amps is that there are two variables that have nothing to do with the amp alone.
1. What speakers are they driving? If it is a speaker that presents a low impedance load (4 ohms and below), then an amp with a lot of current is going to sound better than one that has less. If the speakers are an easy load then the current of the amp is much less important.
2. What are your tastes? For example, I greatly prefer the Parasound JC 1 monoblocks--and even the A 21--over the Pass Labs XA 25, even though the XA 25 sounded more transparent and probably more refined. The reason is that both Parasound amps--especially the JC 1--offered considerably more dynamic slam and toe-tapping rhythmic drive. Someone with a different set of sonic priorities could very well come to a different conclusion.
1. What speakers are they driving? If it is a speaker that presents a low impedance load (4 ohms and below), then an amp with a lot of current is going to sound better than one that has less. If the speakers are an easy load then the current of the amp is much less important.
2. What are your tastes? For example, I greatly prefer the Parasound JC 1 monoblocks--and even the A 21--over the Pass Labs XA 25, even though the XA 25 sounded more transparent and probably more refined. The reason is that both Parasound amps--especially the JC 1--offered considerably more dynamic slam and toe-tapping rhythmic drive. Someone with a different set of sonic priorities could very well come to a different conclusion.