I brought a Nakamichi TA-4A over to a friend's house for one of our frequent
amplifier shootouts. This receiver is considered by many purists to be the
best two channel receiver ever made. The amplifier section is a Nelson Pass
Stasis design.
Up against it was a Plinius basic amp. Both amplifiers are rated at 100 wpc
into 8 ohms.

Both amplifiers had distinct signatures that were plain as day, and
distinguishable independent of volume level. This was apparent to both of
us.
I wonder what an ABXer would say, if he were present, sans test gear.

Would he deny the experience? Would he put his head in the sand?