Wow, a thread on Japanese high end tube gear featuring some amps from companies that have been in the transformer business since 1925, top that McIntosh, and we have a member that says the McIntosh tube units can not be equaled, but goes on to say that that stuff is junk compared to his SS McIntosh gear. OK. that is why so many companies were able to make a go of it back in the day and the good companies are still around producing great gear, Some of the Japanese brands and McIntosh, included. Just not the place to be dissing the gear like you have and then dis that gear, too to extol the virtues to some sand amp crap that isn't even part of this discussion. But it is all good. Least you are not trying foist a Pioneer SX-1980 on us, we know better, about both that and McIntosh. I've had it, moved it on, and I'm not talking the Pioneer.