[Bret L]

My favorite solid state amp is still the Quad when modified properly.
However, and although you can build your own Quad with boards for sale
ion eBay UK, this one is pretty decent too:

http://users.ece.gatech.edu/~mleach/lowtim/

I listened to one of these today built by an acquaintence who
maintained that "he could never build an amplifier", but after I
convinced him that he was a pussy and a failure if he didn't, he built
one of these, etching his own PCB, and even winding his own power
transformer out of a salvaged pair of old Dynaco OPTs I opened up and
cut the windings out of with a chisel. He had restored several antique
radios and rewound a power transformer before, but no audio stuff.

Does it sound as good as the best tube amplifiers? Well, with
inefficient speakers it really does. But hooked up to a good set of
horns, it's a little harsh. All solid state amps are. You know, this
thing is if built well better than 85 to 95 percent of the high dollar
audiophile amps, at a reasonable cost. I's put it up against the
overpriced **** coming out of Mark Levinson today even.